Aston's Garages and Light Cars

This is the same location today

Does anyone remember Tony Lloyd, worked for a Finance Company used by Aston's Does anyone remember the last whereabouts of Marion Aston, and her son Stephen

Can you tell me more about the occupier of the building that Montgomery Plating Works ended up in, you mention Sherbourne Dye. On David Fry's website 'Coventry we have lost' he mentions the Sherbourne Plating works. So what is the history of this site and for that matter what is the history of the site opposite 142/144 & 140 Lower Ford Street, it is difficult to work out exactly when Aston's Garage started, the letterhead says established 1943 since 1934 I think this might be poetic licence as my father had a motor bike business in Tile Hill Lane before the war David Fry runs Marton Historical Society in the Summer, go to the little museum at Marton, only open on Sundays for a couple of hours, doesn't take long to go round but full of interesting bygones. Next subject, just found planning application 24144 by Aston's to turn 22 Far Gosford Street and 153 Lower Ford Street into car showrooms, did they ever do this, obviously all gone now.

They did indeed 145 Warwick Road full of interesting features

Hi David This is mostly guesswork based on old maps and photos of nearby buildings but I think the dye works was demolished - except for its chimney - around 1923. It was then replaced with the "Enterprise Variety Stores" - a parade of small shops on the Far Gosford Street side - and the plating works on the Lower Ford Street side. There was a similar transformation on the other side of Lower Ford Street at around the same time.

Quite fascinating As you know I am writing up the history of Aston's Garages which were in the area What other bicycle or car related-industries were so close in this area - I saw on David Fry's "Coventry we have lost" there was a cycle shop in Lower Ford Street Also who had the Lower Ford Street before Aston's in 1920/30 and early 1940's Probably of no interest to anyone, the Astley's rep around 1958 gave me my first teddy bear, Aston's Coaches used to buy their paint from Astley's Post copied from topic Calcott Motor cars and Motorcycles by Midland Red, 4th Oct 2013 10:07 am

I've had a quick scan through the 1940 Kelly's Directory, and there are two "Cycle Agents and Dealers" listed in the area: Syd Pearson, 69-72 Gosford Street Thos. Prentice, 140 Far Gosford Street

Wasn't Syd Pearson a tyre dealer? I remember the property in Gosford Street.

Yes he was - he's also listed under Motor Car Accessories Dealer at 72 Gosford Street (Syd Pearson Accessories Ltd), and . . . Syd Pearson Tyres Ltd is listed at 65 & 66 Gosford Street He used to live close to us and everyone knew him as "Little Syd", which he was - you'd see him driving along our road looking through the gap beneath the top of the steering wheel!

I remember him, we demolished all the buildings on the other side of the road. He asked me if I could push the grass bank by his entrance over a bit to widen it, so I did this whilst the trucks were away. The following day my boss came down the site and waded into me about it, when I asked him how he knew he pointed to the track marks the machine had left on the road and demanded his share of my ill gotten gains

The tyre business gradually expanded over the years to absorb the neighbouring café, cycle business and snooker club. This is how it last looked as separate businesses in the 1950s: Pictures of Coventry

Please tell me more about the area

It was a fun place to be up unbtil the mid-1960s. Despite the loss of the snooker hall and adjoining café there were still loads of pubs, cinemas and cafés. It was a magnet for young couples after dark. Lots of small shops too, often run by the ageing widow of the original owner. Hidden behind Light Cars there was an orchard belonging to Astley's which few people knew about. Only friends of Charlie Bednell were allowed to play there. The area deteriorated rapidly from about 1965 due to compulsory purchase orders and new roads being driven through. The small shops, cafes, orchard and many of the most popular pubs disappeared. By late 1967 few people visited the area any more unless they had a special reason to.

Does any have or know where I might find adverts for Astons Garages or Light Cars Also interested in adverts for Astons Coaches at Marton which I know appeared in telephone directories

I remember going to Charlie Bednell`s, good old days, I also remember helping Jim Grewcock clear out the Enterprise Store model shop after it had a fire.