 Map sources for Slough at grid reference SU978797
Before the 1800s, the main business of Slough was brickfields and agriculture. The bricks for the building of Eton College were made in Slough. Later, as the Great West Road traffic increased, inns and pubs sprang up along the road to service the passing trade.
During the James Elliman, who started as a draper in Chandos Street. In 1847, he changed careers and manufactured his Elliman's Embrocation and Royal Embrocation horse liniment from factories in Wellington Street and Chandos Street. Elliman became a major benefactor to the town, and is remembered today in the names of local roads and schools.
In 1906, James Horlick, one of the founders of the eponymous malted milk company, opened a purpose-built red-brick factory near to Slough Railway Station to manufacture his malted milk product.
Starting in the Slough Estates Ltd, the operator of the original Slough Trading Estate, created and operated many more estates in the UK and abroad.
Hundreds of major companies have sited in Slough Trading Estate over the years, with its proximity to London Heathrow Airport and good motorway connections being attractive.
In the 1960s Gerry Anderson's film company was based in Slough, and his Supermarionation series including Thunderbirds were filmed there.
The European headquarters of Mars, Incorporated is based in Slough.
The town is also home to the National Foundation for Educational Research, which is housed in The Mere. Also, O2 is headquartered in the town.
In recent years, Slough's manufacturing has been on the decline, instead being replaced by offices, including those of Nintendo, Ferrari, Fiat, Maserati, and the UK branch of popular online retailer, Amazon.com. Dulux Paints are still manufactured in Slough by Imperial Chemical Industries. Satchwell have been manufacturing electrical and electronic products in Slough since the 1920's, currently focussing on climate controls such as thermostats.
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