How cool is this! - Harewood Carriages

[HumBugsey]

Ok, so my grandfather, who died years before I was born, used to work for Harewood Carriages in devon as a draughtsman/designer (as far as I understand.) I have know this since I started getting involved with driving as it was always thought of as a funny coincidence that I got into it (Weirdly since then mum has done some genealogy and found a "horsey" person in every generation going back 400years!) but last week my grandma finally opened his brief case and found photos, carriage books, a complete plan of how to make a 1/10th scale stagecoach and most importantly a Newspaper article!

The article is a little sad acctually as it's from 11th October 1979, just before the last time the economy went tits up, and goes on about how Harewood had just expanded and were doing over 100 carriages a year and had just won an award from The worshipful Company of Carriage Makers and Carriage Harness Makers, an award that had previously gone to concord and the hovercraft. It also states how they're using these new "laminated ply" materials and I defy anyone to find a modern vehical that doesn't use laminated ply! lol 2 years later it was all gone....

Anyway! Where it gets interesting, I put harewood carriages into google and got:
http://www.colonialcarriage.com/item.cfm?id=855

OMG Working show condition and in the states! And to top it off..... maybe this looks a little familier!

The picture grandma found last week

And heres a bit of the article, the North Devon herald-Journal was a broadsheet so having some issues getting the whole thing in!

So has anyone else come across any harewood carriages? They mostly made show vehicals but by the sounds they did anything people wanted. Would love to hear any stories!

 

[Donkeymad]

You must feel so proud of your grand dad and indeed, many of your ancestors. What a very interesting discovery.

 

[HumBugsey]

[ QUOTE ]
You must feel so proud of your grand dad and indeed, many of your ancestors. What a very interesting discovery.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just need to find one in working order in this country now! Unfortunatly by the looks a lot were exported to america and, ironically, germany and poland!

I shall be scruitinising the show reports looking at hubs!

 

[ester]

ooh what fab pics

 

[chickeninabun]

That's so interesting. Well done for finding out so much about your families history.

 

[burtie]

What a great thing tohave found, how facsinating for you!

 

[China Doll]

I just bought a Harewood country gig. I am tearing it apart to restore it and want to get any info I can to restore it to original. It is in pretty good condition. Cane sides. P.S. I am 3 hours from colonial carriage

 

[HumBugsey]

That's so exciting! Would love to see it and any before and afters!

 

[China Doll]

Hopefully this link will work.
I am widening the shafts. Having all the metal sandblasted and painted. Repainting the body and shafts also and lowering it a bit.
New dash and fenders. Looking for lamps also. I would love to get a copy of that article and would pay you to send me one or anything else that might pertain to the history. I had a new carriage on order and bought this for every day sight unseen but when I saw what a little gem it is I am not getting the new one and I am going to use this to show in.

 

[hubertherbert]

Hi!
I have just read your message about Harewood Carriage Company. I was bequeathed a Harrington Gig earlier this year and have only noticed today it has Harewood Carriage Company on the wheel hubs. "How cool is that"?

 

[sunshine19]

You must be so proud of him. I found this on 'dragon driving' website

http://www.dragondriving.co.uk/search.php?k=Harewood&t=all&p=0&h=0&search=Search

 

[China Doll]

Hi!
I have just read your message about Harewood Carriage Company. I was bequeathed a Harrington Gig earlier this year and have only noticed today it has Harewood Carriage Company on the wheel hubs. "How cool is that"?

Would love to see pictures. I am on the hunt for a pair of lamps.
I posted country gig but I have a sporting gig

 

[lizgor]

fascinated by your info. I bought two carriages from the company around 1980 - a two wheeled gig and four wheeled dogcart. They were both amazing vehicles and got lots of positive feedback when driving them. Delighted to hear more about their history. Any more info out there?? Liz

 

[SonnysHumanSlave]

Look at all the new people commenting on this post!!

Sounds like alot of people LOVE these carriages!!

What a great historical and family find!

 

[HumBugsey]

Ok I totally missed all these posts! WOW

3 on dragon driving! My dream is to get a 15.2- 16.2 mw pair and there's my dream carriage! Most of the stuff harewood made was for ponies, not really by design it's just then ponies were more common to drive.

If anyone reads this thread (at any time!) please Private message me by clicking on my name to the left of this and selecting the private message option. I don't continue to check this thread as if often drops off too quickly! Will be more than happy to send more info and would love to hear anything! Esp if it involves my grandfather, Gordon Hayward.

 

[China Doll]

I finished my Gig and won Turnout at our 1st show with 11 in the class.
I am not sure how to attach a photo on here.

 

[moana]

You must be so proud. Reading Carriage Sale Catalogue is available on-line now, and there is a huge entry for the next sale, which is next Wednesday, might be worth having a look.
Look up Reading Carriage sale or Thimbleby and Shorland.

 

[David Whatley]

Ok, so my grandfather, who died years before I was born, used to work for Harewood Carriages in devon as a draughtsman/designer (as far as I understand.) I have know this since I started getting involved with driving as it was always thought of as a funny coincidence that I got into it (Weirdly since then mum has done some genealogy and found a "horsey" person in every generation going back 400years!) but last week my grandma finally opened his brief case and found photos, carriage books, a complete plan of how to make a 1/10th scale stagecoach and most importantly a Newspaper article!

The article is a little sad acctually as it's from 11th October 1979, just before the last time the economy went tits up, and goes on about how Harewood had just expanded and were doing over 100 carriages a year and had just won an award from The worshipful Company of Carriage Makers and Carriage Harness Makers, an award that had previously gone to concord and the hovercraft. It also states how they're using these new "laminated ply" materials and I defy anyone to find a modern vehical that doesn't use laminated ply! lol 2 years later it was all gone....

Anyway! Where it gets interesting, I put harewood carriages into google and got:
http://www.colonialcarriage.com/item.cfm?id=855

OMG Working show condition and in the states! And to top it off..... maybe this looks a little familier!

The picture grandma found last week

And heres a bit of the article, the North Devon herald-Journal was a broadsheet so having some issues getting the whole thing in!

So has anyone else come across any harewood carriages? They mostly made show vehicals but by the sounds they did anything people wanted. Would love to hear any stories!

Hi, I have just discovered your site and this picture revived my memories . I was one of the first six 'Key Workers' who joined the Harewood Carriage Company when they relocated from Hampshire (LongParish) down to Holsworthy, Devon. I Remember Gilbert Given, shown with a wheel in the photo, He lived near Anvil Corner, and had previously worked on building railway carriages and touring caravans. I remember Gordon Hayward too, He was a draughtsman and had previously worked designing Magnox Nuclear Power Stations...There were lots of stories from those days. Get in touch, Yours, David Whatley, now retired.

 

[ester]

Hi David, Humbugsey no longer uses the forum but I am friends with her in real life so will pass on your message

 

[David Whatley]

Thank you ester,
David.

 

[scruffyponies]

Hi, I have just discovered your site and this picture revived my memories . I was one of the first six 'Key Workers' who joined the Harewood Carriage Company when they relocated from Hampshire (LongParish) down to Holsworthy, Devon. I Remember Gilbert Given, shown with a wheel in the photo, He lived near Anvil Corner, and had previously worked on building railway carriages and touring caravans. I remember Gordon Hayward too, He was a draughtsman and had previously worked designing Magnox Nuclear Power Stations...There were lots of stories from those days. Get in touch, Yours, David Whatley, now retired.

Wow - I live just up river from Longparish, and had no idea that the 'Harewood' in Harewood Carriages referred to our lovely woods.
Do you know where in the village they were based, and when they moved to Devon?

 

[David Whatley]

I only visited the original site once; it was a place with some single story sheds, and some space like a drive or a yard either within the village or on the edge.
I was a student in Leeds in 1973, and had intended to move down to live in the Andover area , where my family were.I was going to work at the Longparish unit, which was quite small and not set up for factory production. Stanley Johnson had secured a CoSira (government)grant to set up and expand the business in a purpose built factory on Dobles Lane, Holsworthy. Stanley's intention was to keep the Longparish site for repairs to vehicles , and produce new vehicles in Devon. The Spindle-Back Gig was to be the main production vehicle. However , the logistics of managing two split sites with a 4 hr drive between was a deciding factor. The local workforce did not wish to relocate to Devon, and so a brand new team had to be built up. I moved down to Devon in September !974. The builders were still constructing the factory.
I had been promised a council house to move into, as a key worker. That never materialised. We had to build our own benches out of unsuitable timber; unseasoned Poplar. As the wood dried out the benches developed twists. There was a lot to do besides just building carriages ! It was a very eventful time .
I hope this answers your question, sorry to not know the location in Longparish

 

[Parrotperson]

I'm getting a Chinese website when I click on the link! Odd.

 

[David Whatley]

How Bizzar,
I am in South Norfolk.
There is a very good Chinese restaurant here, but I do not think they hack my emails.

 

[Parrotperson]

Ha! I hope not. I fancy a Chinese mind!

 

[David Whatley]

I find it interesting that Lynnfigaro and Finnishlaphund are following this, and I became aware this morning when I discovered your forum that there are people out there who have heard of The Harewood Carriage Co, and some may even own , or have owned , some of 'our vehicles. That is gratifying. Stanley and Betty Johnson and all the people who used to work at the factory would be pleased. We put a lot of good materials together as well as we knew how, it was very creative. Look after the vehicles , the horses and yourselves.

 

[Lynnfigaro]

I find it interesting that Lynnfigaro and Finnishlaphund are following this, and I became aware this morning when I discovered your forum that there are people out there who have heard of The Harewood Carriage Co, and some may even own , or have owned , some of 'our vehicles. That is gratifying. Stanley and Betty Johnson and all the people who used to work at the factory would be pleased. We put a lot of good materials together as well as we knew how, it was very creative. Look after the vehicles , the horses and yourselves.

I find the whole thread very interesting.
Hopefully more people will get in touch.

 

[TulipTilly]

Really great find! Great old pics - definitely ones to treasure

 

[fluffycobs4life]

Wow,what a fantastic discovery to have made!