Mcnaught and Company, Lord Mayors Coach Maker
Mcnaught and Company of Worcester.
January 23rd, 2007
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.
Mcnaughts Carriages
January 23rd, 2007
Carriage No 1 built 1897 in Worcester
Alderman Allistons 1898 carriage.
The new coach in Worcester.
The Sherrif of London’s carriage built 1887.
The very high body allowed the
front wheels to turn underneath so Londons narrow street corners could be
negotiated.A bit wobbly for the passengers compared with a low slung coach.
There are records of sea sick coach passengers!
The Lord Mayor of London’s Coach in the Worcester Yard where it returned
every year for refurbishment, probably on a Great Western Railway low loader
to the Butts North Quay line.
It is a great shame the superb Showrooms were destroyed by Kay’s when they would have made a marvelous City Museum for the larger exhibits.
London Showrooms in Park Lane.
The wonderful Showroom and Gallery in the Tything.
Lord Mayors Show 2007
