Born 22nd August 1771, Maudslay's first job was as a powder monkey at Wooolwich Arsenal. After time spent in the carpenter's shop and then the smithy, where he showed exceptional ability, he worked from 1790 to 1797 with the famous lock maker Joseph Bramah.

He set up in business on his own at 64 Wells St., off Oxford St. in 1797. Soon his reputation as a toolmaker and iron worker spread and orders poured in. He moved to larger premises at 78 Margaret St. (now demolished) in 1802, where he was able to employ 80 men before finally moving to the site of his most famous engineering works at Lambeth Marsh in 1810.

Henry Maudslay was one of the most sought after mechanics in London, even while still at Woolwich Arsenal. At Bramah's he worked on the development of machinery that enabled commercial production of the locks, previously built by hand. His time with Bramah made his reputation as a master craftsman.

About the time he moved to Margaret St., Maudlsay was commissioned to construct the block-making machinery at Portsmouth Dockyard for the Admiralty, after the models he made for Sir Marc Brunel impressed Sir Samuel Bentham, Inspector-General of Naval Works.