Southwold Town Garage
     
 

The freeholds of Nos 3 to 9 Station Road are owned by Southwold Town Council.Like its other properties in the town, this is a legacy from the original William Godell bequest. In the early 2000s, the Town Council comprehensively refurbished these properties to provide a mix of residential apartments amd shops. The parade was formally named 'Hurren Terrace' to commemorate a former Town Mayor, Jo Hurren.
At the centre of Hurren Terrace is an archway accessing a collection of industrial buildings and sheds, also Town property, which includes, Southwold Town Garage.

1896
Arthur Surname - Proprietor,Southwold Sanitary Laundry (check name) (K1896)

1901
E B Pipe - Laundryman, Southwold Steam Laundry. (C1901) The census describes him as 'employer'. He is 28 and single.

1907
Basil Douglas Barr-Hamilton - Laundry Manager, Southwold Steam Laundry. (Source: Robin Barr-Hamilton, Basil's grandson).

Note: Kelly's Directory for 1908 lists EA Jennings as Manager,Southwold Steam laundry. It may be that the entry is out of date or that Jennings was employed by Barr-Hamilton. It is clear from the photograph that a motor garage was also already established within this courtyard but we have no record of a proprietor before the 1920s.

If you would like to read a mini biography of Basil Douglas Barr-Hamilton, please click here.



 
1916
Campling Ltd - Steam Laundry, Dyers and Dry Cleaners (K1916)
 
1924
John R Belcher & Son - Motor and General Engineers (K1924)
 

1930s
Reg Belcher - Belcher's Garage - Motor Engineers and Car Sales

 
 


1969
Michael Belcher - Motor engineers and car sales. (advertisement, right)
 

 
 

(Names, dates) BJK Garage -
The lease of this garage and the shops on either side of the entrance is held by Cyril Mack who subleases the properties to individual shopkeepers.

1982
John Goldsmith - Trading as 'Southwold Welding Supplies Ltd.' this year takes a lease on a property withiin the garage yard, immediately to the rear of No 5 Station Road. He will trade here until 2002.

 

Date
Principal lease reverts to Southwold Town Council.

 

 
 
 

 
   

Do you have any memories or records about this address? Can you correct any of our information or fill in any of our blanks? If so, please email Barry Tolfree
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SOURCES:
BSD - Bernard Segrave-Daly
BCS = Bygones & Characters of Southwold by Barrett Jenkins
C = Census
CP = Cinema Programme 1958
CSP = Coronation Souvenir Programme 1953
G = Gales Trade Directory
GRO = General Register Office
K = Kelly's Directory
LM = Local memory
M = James Maggs' Southwold Diary 1818-1876
MCG = Methodist Church Guide 1930
NA = National Archives
PP = Pantomime Programme 1933
PLR = Petrol Licence Records
POD = Post Office Directory
PPP = Pier Pavilion Programme 1924, 1926
RCE = Rotary Club Exhibition 1969
SCM = Southwold Catholic Magazine 1923
SCTG = Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide
SER = Southwold Electoral Register
SFP = Southwold Scouts Fete Programme 1947
SG = Southwold Guide
SGCH = Southwold Golf Club Handbook
SLHR = Southwold Local History Recorder 1980s 1990s (Mrs R. McDermot)
SMHS = Southwold Museum & Historical Society
SN = Southwold & Neighbourhood 1903
SPM = Southwold Parish Magazine 1895 -1954
SR = Southwold Recorder 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935
SRB = Southwold Rate Book
SRT = Southwold Railway Timetable 1915
SSAS = Southwold Sea Angling Society Handbook 1909
SST = Southwold Summer Theatre Programmes
SSW = Southwold Shopping Week Programme, June/July 1922
STG = Southwold Town Guide 1930
SVL = Southwold Visitors List 1907, 1930
SVCP = Southwold Victory Celebration Programme 1946
SWCG = Southwold Wesleyan Church Guide
TTR = 'The Town Revisited' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 2000
TTT = ''To The Town' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 1988
W = White’s History, Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk 1874
 
Note on dates
Unless otherwise stated, dates given do not indicate the years in which the business started or finished but those for which there is firm evidence that it was trading at this address. Sources in brackets; key at bottom of page.



Basil Douglas Barr-Hamilton, Laundry Manager at the Southwold Steam Laundry sets off on his linen round. Date is probably around 1907.

Photo courtesy of Robin Barr-Hamilton, Basil's grandson

Click the picture to enlarge

John R Belcher & Sons photographed in the 1920s during what looks like a special promition for the New Hudson Motorcycle range. John is standing in front of the showroom. Posing on the bikes are his sons, Reg and Michael.

With thanks to Mimi Shea for allowing us to reproduce this family photo.

Click the picture to enlarge

1922 Advertisement in the Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide.
Click the image to enlarge


1930 Advertisement in Southwold Magazine.
Both above adverts courtesy of Heather Osmer

A Southwold Cinema advertising slide from the 1930s.
Southwold Museum

John Belcher was now in his 60s and his son, Reg, has taken over the business in the 1930s. Emphasis in the showroom now appears to be on Raleigh pedal bicycles. Reg is posing on a bicycle on the right.

With thanks to Mimi Shea for allowing us to reproduce this family photo.

Click the picture to enlarge

Reg Belcher

With thanks to Mimi Shea for allowing us to reproduce this family photo.

1936 advertisement in Southwold Visitors List 1936.

Courtesy of Margaret Turnbull

1946 advert for Belcher's Garage

1946 advertisement reproduced from the Souvenir programme of the Southwold Victory Celebrations: "We are pleased to announce that the greater part of our men have returned from the services and we are now in a position to execute all repairs promptly"

With thanks to David Wright for this image


!969 advertisement in the Rotary Club Leisure Activities Exhibition Guide