Morris Engines, Courthouse Green

Perhaps you remember Bill Palmer? He said everyone called him "Tizer Bill" (he always took a bottle of it to work with him), and was also known for his Western Welsh bus driver's cap, which he quite often wore. Bill worked as a crank grinder. He must have retired about 1966. He was a great friend.

I remember the gentleman with the ladies darts team he was a waiter at the Morris Club he emigrated to Australia in the sixties but can not remember his name.

Hello Everyone, My dad used to work at the Morris as a crankshaft grinder. He was in the football and cricket team. His name is Aubrey John Brealey, usually called Aub. All of the family would go and watch him play cricket on a Sunday. My mum Lil, my brother Ken, my sister Lynda and me Bob. As kids we used to enjoy the sunny days playing games and climbing the trees on the perimeter of the cricket field. I always remember the smell of the salad that they had after the match. We lived in Fulbrook Road, Wood End and moved to Silverdale Close, Aldermans Green. Thank you Bob (Robert Brealey)

Hello Redpie Welcome & thank you for your post.

Hi Nat, I think I remember you, did you know Sarah Jones? I worked there from 1969 to 1974

Hi. My grandfather was Foundry Superintendent at Courthouse Green until his retirement in 1966, Ernie Allen. He was given a present of a Ronson Variflame table lighter set in a replica of an A series cylinder block cast in the foundry. I still have it. He came up from Oxford in the '30's and worked at the old Hotchkiss factory in Gosford Street until Nuffield opened the Courthouse Green site. When he retired my father Peter Allen took over as Foundry Manager and was there until the foundry closed. He fought very hard to keep the foundry open but the powers that be ignored any presentations he made. They closed it even though, as my father told me, Coventry was more efficient than the Wellingborough foundry that stayed open. He had the greatest respect for the workforce at Courthouse Green. Dad started at the Morris in 1948 and worked in the pattern shop learning the foundry trade from the shop floor up. I remember people like Harry Barratt, ex Coventry footballer. Cliff Haynes, Bob Smith, George Baskets, Sid Cook and old Dick who looked after the garage. I never worked there but I knew many through my grandfather and dad. The social club was second to none. The Christmas parties in the fifties were magnificent. I have so many photographs of the Morris and its workforce, menus from the dinner and dances etc. My uncle, Sheldon Smith, Sam to his mates, was a lorry driver there for many years and my brother Paul worked on valve grinding. Dad died in 2007 and grandad in 1968. Best wishes to all Steve Allen

My father and myself both worked at Morris Engines and I too remember those kids Christmas parties and the summer fetes, they were truly magnificent, and not forgetting the swings and the sand pit at the side of the clubhouse, happy days.

Hi, Can anyone tell me when this plant closed down, in particular when the foundry shut. In addition does anyone know where I can get this information in a documented format, for example in a reference book. Many thanks Colin

Hi & welcome to our forum, Colin, I am sure someone will come up with this. The water tower was an icon which vanished about the late eighties. It was there one day & gone the next.

Mention of the foundry at Courthouse Green brought back memories of the day I started my apprenticeship in the summer of 1959. Leaving Woodlands School I had two weeks to myself before reporting to Morris Engines as an apprentice toolmaker. I had been assured by all that toolmaking was the best trade in Coventry, on reflection I think that was probably correct at the time. Mind you nothing prepared us for the vision of hell that was the foundry. Very odd looking back that interviews never included a tour of the factory; this was left for the first day at work. There were probably about 18 of us meeting for the first time, all very apprehensive of what the future held for us. After signing some documents we were issued with our first boiler suits, green so we could be spotted at a distance. Ever tried to put on a boiler suit that was too small, not a good experience. Anyway once we looked the part, even wearing ties as toolmakers always had to look smart (forget health and safety in 1959), off we went on a tour of Courthouse Green. The overwhelming smell of cutting oil and suds was the initial sensation which was never to go away. The blackness and filthy dust of the cast iron shop, blocks and cylinder heads being machined one after another, we had never seen anything like it. Of more interest were the assembly shops, 'A' and 'B' class engines being put together in a more civilised and clean environment. Mind you the noise from the circular banks of engines being tested was rather loud to say the least. No rocker covers were fitted to enable the testers to set the correct clearances so the thunder of tappets was ear shattering. The foundry was left until the end. What had we signed up for? It seemed like Dante's inferno, noise, smell, heat and flames it had them all. Normal conversation was impossible but everyone seemed happy. Looking spotless we were the butt of a lot of humour, most of which we couldn't hear. My day then turned into a farce as my nose started to bleed, so off to the medical centre. There was no way it was going to stop so both nasal passages were packed with lengths of bandage. What a start to my working life.

My brothers, Steve and Geoff Woodford, worked at the Morris for several years in the 60's-70's. Steve was apprentice of the year at the Tech, the same year that Bob Brolly was runner up!

I have fond memories of Courthouse Green. As a honorary ex apprentice, I was included on a number of apprentice visits (MIRA) etc. On a visit around the Courthouse Green foundry I expected the noise and dust. but was surprised by the sand and dust that balanced on the top of the roof girders every now and then a vibration would cause a small avalanche over ones head, you learned to stop looking upwards. Another good Morris Works day was when the BMC range of cars was displayed on the grass just outside the works. I remember getting into a big Healy and having to put the seat right back so that I could get in, then finding my feet hard up against the toe board, I found it imposable to use the peddles. I knew the Morley brothers (big chaps) drove the 3000 and wondered how they did it. Years later I was told the cars were especially modified for them. Great Days!!

Hi all... I worked on the gear cutting in the early 60s, and used to chat to a friend of mine who was on the final inspection for the gearbox casings, I noticed him putting some in one stillage and some in another, I asked him why and he said the perfect ones are for Austin and the other ones are for Morris. So it would appear the Austin car would have been a better car to buy.....

In response to Austin Morris, who asked when the plant closed down - it was late in 1981 when production came to an end, but a number of staff stayed on until mid-1982 to clear the factory of machinery and fittings. My father (John Brightley) was one of the last 6 people to leave. As far as I know, nobody has documented the history of the works in any detail - maybe a few ex workers should get together and write it! Has anyone got any photos of the works before they were demolished?

My father worked at the Morris from the day it opened, having moved from Gosford Street until he retired in or about 1960. I also worked there from 1953 till it closed down in 1982, my son also joined as apprentice electrician in 1977, he also stayed on till closure. I was a supervisor LES BEARD, I covered most depts over the 30 years, I did mainly engine assy and many machining depts on the nightshift. I was probably the last person to leave as I was given permission to go back on site after closure to take photos of the plant in various stages of demolition. I have three books of photos I've taken, also copies of the works magazine called the teamwork from 1949 to 1956 which were one old penny, each full of photos of employees retirements and activities, fishing / darts / annual sports day / bowling / tennis / football / boxing, the social club and much more. These photos and mags I've loaned to a film director DUANE HOPKINS who is making a film on the motor industry which should be completed in Feb 2013, then he is returning them to me so if anyone would like to have a look at them, give me a shout on 0798 008 0099. Here is a few names to fire up your memories - HARRY JEFFERIES / TED CAMPBELL / JACK LOWE / BILL LANCASTER / JACK HANCOX / WAL BLOWER / LES BEDNELL / ERNIE MOORE / RON GREEN / JACK GOLBY / CES TURNER / PETE HEMMINGS / GORDON DRAKEFORD / JIM ROACH / BERT DINN / JOE KENNEL / ERNIE HOOD / TOMMY WOODS / BILL LISTER / TONY PARSONS to name but a few. Over to you.