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Christmas and Chorlton's Garage

From the Cart to the Car

By Kate Pugh and Neil Fortey

The photographer has obviously arranged this photograph to contrast different modes of transport. On the extreme left is a pedestrian, a smart lady in a cloche hat (can anyone identify her?), next the cart with its driver and a passenger posing by the wheel (Who were they? What kind of cart was it?). On the right, modernity, two men standing proudly by the car.

We are grateful to Mr. Gary Christmas, of Melton Mowbray and his cousin, Mr. Christopher Harris of Salem, Oregon, for identifying the members of their family in the photograph. (See their comments below.) Mr. Harris tells us that the little girl in the car is his mother, Marcia Christmas. On the right is his grandfather, Bill Christmas. On the left is Sid Chorlton. Mr Woodhouse, proprietor of the present day garage on this site (Woodhouse and Carman), told us Mr.Christmas habitually smoked a pipe. We would very much like to know more about the garage, the cars of this time and their owners.

Mr Woodhouse also pointed out that the garden wall seen on the left of the picture is still there, but it is higher in this picture because the level of the unmetalled street, without pavements, was lower than today. The gable end of the stable block is also higher than today, for the same reason. Claremont House, the large house behind the stables, has two sets of octagonal neo-tudor chimneys, which have since been replaced by plain rectangular chimneys, perhaps when the old ones became unstable. There was no street lighting when the old picture was taken. We have included a modern picture taken from the same positon for comparison.

Christmas and Chorlton's garage, selling B.P. Motor Spirit 1s 3d a gallon, is listed in Kelly's Directory for 1928 and the picture would seem to date from around this time. In addition to the petrol pumps, advertisements and telegraph poles, which have all gone, it shows the garage buildings and bicycle shop where the open forecourt is today.

If anyone can add any memories, information or photographs about the garage, please get in touch. Can anyone recognise the make of the car?

Christmas and Chorlton's Garage. High Street, 1920 - 1930?

From the collection of Angela Marsh, digitally balanced by Kathy Sparham

A modern view of High Street from Woodhouse and Carman's garage.

Neil Fortey, May 2007

Sid Chorlton, Marcia Christmas, Bill Christmas

Detail of photograph 1.

Detail of picture 1. Cart approaching Claremont House. Can anyone identify the people in this picture?

Garage Signs, detail of picture 1.

What make of car was this and who was the Third Man behind the door?

Detail of picture 1.

Woodhouse and Carman's occupies the Christmas and Chorlton site today.

Photo by Kate Pugh

This page was added by Kate Pugh on 26/05/2007.

Comments about this page

I was looking at your pictures with interest, because my
grandfather William Christmas used to run the garage,
with his son Mike Christmas, who lives in the bungalow
behind the garage today. I am sure we will be able to name
the 2 men in the photo and provide information on the
garage. Regards Gary Christmas (Melton Mowbray)

By Mr. Gary Christmas
On 06/11/2007

From the photograph of Christmas and Chorlton's Garage - (I think 1928 is about the right year) - the man with his foot on the streetside footboard of the car is indeed Sid Chorlton. The man on the pavement with his foot on the footboard of the car is Bill Christmas (not Dan Christmas, and not peering from behind the garage door!) The girl in the car is Marcia Christmas, the daughter of Bill Christmas, and my mother. My cousin, Gary Christmas, is correct, that Mike Christmas, who joined his father working in the garage sometime in the late 1950's or early 1960's, still lives on the property in a bungalow behind the remodelled garage.
Chris Harris (Salem, Oregon, USA)

By Christopher Harris
On 07/01/2008

Great to hear from you in Salem, Oregon. Thank you very much for identifying your mother and grandfather and Sid Chorlton. Please check to make sure we've got the details right. If you can think of anything more about the garage or anything else about Bottesford, we'd love to hear from you again. Happy New Year!

By Kate Pugh
On 07/01/2008

Hi Christopher! I still live on the Square with my brother Robert. I have recently retired from nursing. My sisters still live locally with their families.I have an old photo of bonfire night in the 1950s which might rekindle old memories.

By Susan Dunsmore
On 12/01/2008

Hi Kate!
It was lovely to see pictures of where you now live such a contrast from North London. The work man's cottage where I live doesn't have quite such an idyllic back drop but I'm sure if I dig deep they'll be an interesting history. Hope all is well. Belated Happy New Year!
By Christine Somerville (WHLS)

By Christine Somerville
On 23/02/2008

Happy New Year, Christine. Message on message board.

By Kate Pugh
On 23/02/2008

Great view of a long gone bye scene! I think the car is a solid wheeled Trojan.

By John Tyers
On 27/02/2008

Thank you for this suggestion. The Trojan would certainly be the right date. By Googling 'Trojan Utility Car' we came up with www.britishman.co.uk?history.asp?id=896 , which gives a brief history and some good pictures of the old car. These support John Tyler's identification, and slight changes in the bodywork support a date nearer 1927 than earlier. The website tells us that the Trojan Utility cost £157 in 1924, and was advertised as, 'The Car for the Man who Can't Afford a Car,' perhaps not the greatest advertising slogan. Another slogan was "Can You Afford to Walk!". It had solid tyres on non-removable wheels, though an alternative 'up market' version with pneumatic tyres and removable wheels was offered from 1924. But don't laugh - the car was simple and reliable, and it is reported that some reached 100,000 miles with little more than periodic de-coking, according to www.coys.co.uk/auctions , which site also tells us that the car was powered by a two-stroke engine under the driver's seat, so that the impressive bonnet was almost empty inside. Coys were auctioning one for an estimated price of £2,000 - £4,000 in 2004. Apparently, the designer also produced camp beds (did they have any springs, one wonders).

By Editor
On 28/02/2008