The family that made cars in Chorlton ……..

This I think will be the last story on the Ashby family who made cars on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton during the early 1920s.

North End Baptist Church, undated

So intriguing is the story that I was drawn in and wrote two pieces for the blog.*

There are still some mysteries to uncover like where exactly on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton were they situated, and just why they swopped car production from Towcester in Northamptonshire to Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

But in the course of researching the Ashby family, one of my facebook friends came up with a little bit more on the origins of the the car manufacturers.

The article comes from Towcester and District Local History Society who kindly gave me permission to reproduce it.

"The North End Chapel building was erected by Baptists from Duncote on land owned by Thomas Ridgway the tea magnate, and was in use from 1853 to 1894. Thomas Ridgway himself was baptised there on 3rd June 1855.

Making Ashby motor cars, undated

In 1897 Victor James Ashby (1862 to 1938) bought the vacant building as he needed larger premises for his motor engineering firm; the former baptistry proved an ideal inspection pit in the new garage. 

At this time he built a car for family use, the "Jigger", making the twin cylinder engine himself.

As the Pioneer Motor Works business flourished. electricity was introduced and the first private telephone in Towcester was installed. 

By 1910 the old chapel had taken on a new look with added frontage and waiting area, and Victor Ashby's two children had joined the business.

His son Victor Stapleton Ashby (1892 to 1953) joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of the First World War, serving as a Chief Engineer. 

On his return to Towcester he designed a new car, which came to the attention of Short Brothers, the famous aircraft firm. Manufacturing space was short at the Chapel at Towcester, so the car was produced at the Short Brother's factory, as the "Short-Ashby" first appearing at the Motor Show at White City in 1922. 

Unfortunately production ceased after only three years due to the general economic recession.

Green plaque, 2002

Victor Stapleton Ashby did not wish to continue the motor business when his father retired. The Pioneer Motor Works was eventually sold to Churchills, the machine tool makers. 

Later the building was used by The Plessey Company Ltd, and it is now occupied by "Go Floor It" (formerly M.J.Gowling Ltd.) Christine Williams, February 2002.

References

Much of the information on the Pioneer Motor Works was obtained from a magazine article by Nick Baldwin (source and date unknown) which also referenced the Stratford Motor Museum.

Other information from Mary Taylor."

Pioneer Motor Works, Worcester, undated

So that is it.

Location; Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Towcester

Pictures; The North End Chapel, undated, Baptist Chapel as a garage, undated, and the historic green plaque. Circa 2002, courtesy of Towcester and District Local History Society

*Asby Cars,  https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Ashby%20Cars

**Towcester and District Local History Society, http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/tdlhs/Places/Plaques/NEBaptist.html?fbclid=IwAR3bpe-l6gLprsDD0XuM5EpL1GaNd6KiSnUE8ZYe-1_0q7BN5A2gvfM31Vo