Forrest & Sym was an Iron Foundry located on Phillips Park Road, Ardwick, Manchester. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Ardwick and Ancoats areas of the city formed a significant location for iron and steel works, as there were good transport links - initially with the canal network and later with rail and road links. Forrest & Sym was one of a number of companies in the area, including W & J Galloway & Sons, John Hetherington & Son, and Richard Johnson & Nephew. The Forrest & Sym foundry was situated opposite the Richard Johnson & Nephew works. The roots of the business date back to c1850, when Alexander Sym moved to Manchester from Kilmarnock to work for a Mr. Ezard at his iron foundry. When Mr. Ezard retired c1882, Alexander Sym entered into a partnership with Campbell Forrest, who had been a foundry manager in Paisley, and bought the company from Mr. Ezard. The company was requisitioned for war work during the First World War and manufactured hand grenades and gas bombs. Government inspectors were based at the factory, and the firm became an engineering company as well as a foundry. During the Second World War, c1943, the Forrest family left the partnership and Alexander Sym's son, Ralph Sym, took over the running of the company. On his death in 1961, Donald Sym and his brother took over as Directors, followed by their sons Nigel and Philip Sym in the 1970s. In the late 1990s during the lead-up to Manchester's hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, a Compulsory Purchase Order was issued for Forrest & Sym's site as the area was cleared to make way for sports facilities. The company considered moving to new premises, but as the industry was in decline elected for voluntary liquidation instead. The company finally wound up in 2004.