Mcnaught and Company of Worcester.
basil | 1/23/2007 | 2:38 pm
By 1916 Motor Cars were more identifiable with the modern vehicles. This was probably a Vauxhall with McNaughts taxi
body.
Advertisement in 1912 Worcester Trade Directory. Possibly a French Talbot Chassis with McNaughts body.
Stables and Showroom in the Tything on the corner of St.
Mary’s Street.
McNaught & Co Ltd, The Tything Worcester.
During the long reign of Queen Victoria through the 19th Century Worcester developed a wide range of industries many of which became world leaders trading to all parts of the globe.Family businesses started by one enterprising individual grew until eventually employing a considerable number of local people. One of the finest companies which is virtually unknown today was McNaught and Co. which had large showrooms, workshops and stables in the Tything on the corner of St. Mary’s Street.
Started in the 1790’s by Mr Mcnaught a highly skilled craftsman they started building horse drawn traps and light carriages for the local gentry but graduated into the larger vehicle market. From 1862 they exhibited their vehicles in international exhibitions and were awarded Gold Medals in London, 1862,Paris, 1867, Philidelphia, 1876, Paris, 1878, Sydney, 1879, Melbourne, 1880, Calcutta,1884 and an Inventions exhibition 1885.
As well as the Lord Mayor of London’s Coach they bult carriages for the Metropolitan and County Sherrifs as well as H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Conaught. They had showrooms in Park Lane London,and Birmingham as well as a superb showroom and galleries in Worcester.
Employing the finest painters, and guilders,lining and decorating with ornate heraldic coats of arms on to the superb coach builders work in Oak, Ash, Walnut, Hickory, Elm, Birch, and Mahogany. Then the Smithy which had ten hearths made the springs and tyres for the wheelwrights while the upholsterers exercised their skills making the most comfortable seating as travelling on our roads was dreadfull until the 20th Century.A considerable harness department produced award winning tackle using the finest leathers produced in the Worcester Tanneries which were founded on the Droitwich Salt industry and the ready supply of young oak trees known as Blackpoles to produce tannin
Many of the present vehicles are owned by stately homes unaware of where they were originally built as local Agents fixed their own brass plates claiming they built them.
R.M.Sinclair
Lower Broadheath
Worcester
WR2 6QU
thebutty@btinternet.com
Just telephone Worcester 4 to order one.
