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Summary:
Originally this was part of the land belonging to The Bear Inn - gardens, stables and glasshouses.
In the early 1900s it became increasingly used to support the popularity of the motor car - car parking, garages, and a roadside petrol pump.
The art deco garage was built in c.1935 by Stradlings, and the premises were eventually taken over by the Chilton Group, then Hungerford Garages, before Dick Lovett.
Photo Gallery:
Dick Lovett BMW, Jun 2010.
Charnham Street, c1936, showing the signage for Stradling's Garage.
Charnham Street 1974, sowing the Mobil filling station.
The Bear, c1925, showing the BP petrol bowswer and oil pumps on the right.
"Bath Road, Hungerford", c1945 (Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd, London)
Staff at Stradlings Garage, c1948.
Staff in Stradlings Garage, c1948.
Hungerford refuse lorry at Stradlings Garage, c1948.
The remains of the 1930s Stradling Garage before redevelopment, Jun 2004.
The remains of the 1930s Stradling Garage before redevelopment, Jun 2004.
The remains of the 1930s Stradling Garage before redevelopment, Jun 2004.
- The Bear, c.1930, showing the petrol pump.
- "Bath Road, Hungerford", c.1945 (Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd, London)
- Stradling's Garage c.1950.
- Staff at Stradling's Garage c.1950.
- Staff at Stradling's Garage c.1950.
- The remains of the 1930s Stradling Garage before redevelopment, June 2004.
- Dick Lovett BMW, June 2010.
Timeline:
Part of the gardens and stables of The Bear Inn:
Pre 1900: Land beloning to The Bear - gardens, stables and glasshouses.
In the early 1900s it became increasingly used to support the popularity of the motor car - car parking, garages, and a roadside petrol pump.
Stradlings garage (1919-c1960):
When the seven-year lease on land at 1 Charnham Street came to an end in 1919, this site became used for car parking and garages.
A few years later several hand-operated petrol pumps were set up beside the road, operated by Stradling's who by this time had the shop opposite The Bear at 21 Charnham Street.
In 1934 Horace Arthur Cadd took over The Bear and a 42-year lease on a plot of land with a 141ft frontage, and 90 foot depth to Stradlings of Newbury for the purpose of operating a garage and filling station.
On this land Stradling got planning approval to build a garage and filling station in the art deco style.
1939 Blacket's Dir: Stradlings Ltd, motor works and garage, 40 Charnham Street.
1940 Blacket's Dir: 42 Charnham Street: Stradlings Ltd, Motor Works & Garage.
(The next section is based on Alan Staddon's history of Bearwater, derived on information from Gideon Pickering and Jack Williams:)
Jul 1 1953: Reginald Ernest and Ena Fitch bought the Bear and on 17 Mar 1954 sold the freehold of the garage site to Harry Neil Stradling, (mis-spelt Streading in the Land Registry), one of James Stradling's sons.
May 3 1956: Mr and Mrs Fitch (the new owners of The Bear) disposed of a further 162ft frontage to Berkshire and Reading Fire Authority, the intention being to replace the Fire Station near Faulknor Square with a new building. The local volunteer force argued against this, however, because traffic congestion on the A4 prior to building of the motorway meant it would take too long to reach the fire scene.
Chilton Garages (c.1960-1972):
c1960: Stradlings sold out to the Chilton Group, at that time principal employer of labour in Hungerford. (See Chilton Factory). The Group diversified into the selling of motor cars. The premises were called Hungerford Service Station, and sold Mobil petrol and oil. A Ford dealership and Mercedes Service Agency were established, in addition to the existing petrol station, on the former Stradlings’premises.
The Chilton Group also bought the petrol station adjacent to the Sun Inn on the opposite side of Charnham Street, thereby controlling petrol sales on both sides of the Bath Road. The combined gallonage was reputedly the highest delivered between London and Bath.
By 1969 management of these two outlets was in a parlous state and Gerald Ward, who had retained an interest, called upon his former Company Accountant to come back and sort things out. His name was Jack Williams and the full story can be enjoyed by reading his book: “A Man of Hungerford”,published in 2001.
Hungerford Garages (1972-2001):
On 1st March 1972 a new company, incorporated by Peter Knowland, a B.M.W. dealer in Faringdon and his friend Gideon Pickering, took over the whole garage business. With Gideon as Managing Director they opened a B.M.W. showroom on the South site, adjacent to the Bear Hotel, with a workshop behind the petrol station on the North site, opposite what is now Bearwater. The inherited showroom was of an “art deco” design comprising a bow fronted centre section with curved glass and high squared false wing walls, more reminiscent of a pre-war cinemathan a car showroom. In 1975 the false walls had to be lowered to follow the roof contours after structural engineers became concerned as to their stability. The M4 motorway between junctions 9 and 18 was opened on 22nd December 1971 and the two filling stations immediately lost significant amounts of trade.
The North site ceased selling petrol in 1975 and, in 1981, following negotiations with local planners, a new showroom was constructed so that B.M.W. sales and service could be on one site. That same showroom now houses the Dick Lovett Mini franchise and B.M.W. service reception. The new building was opened in 1982 by the Managing Director of B.M.W. GB with an evening launch event, attended by many Hungerford Garages customers. In order to provide adequate space for guests, Carters of Reading covered the entire car park with a lined and carpeted marquee, with furnishings extending into what was then the workshop, creating a seamless space for cocktails and canapés, followed by dinner. A surprise attraction, parked inside, was a Bell Jetranger Helicopter, owned by one of Gideon Pickerings’ friends who thought B.M.W. customers might be interested in learning to fly, or chartering the aircraft. It had landed in Bennett’s yard, touching down close to where number 1 Bearwater now stands, before being wheeled across the road into the marquee. At the end of the evening a draw was held for a trip in the Helicopter over the winner’s house. It was won by Alan Holland.
The now vacant South showroom was rebranded “Hungerford Garages (Specialist Vehicles) Ltd.” and became a Suzuki dealership selling mainly, as expected in a rural area, 4-wheel drive vehicles.
Nov 1982: Hungerford Garages stopped retailing petrol on this site, when they commenced a re-development of the site to accommodate further expansion of their new and used car business (see Hungerford Garages letter to customers, 8 Nov 1982). In 1983 the canopy was removed with the pumps, to provide a larger area for car parking. After a short period concentrating on second hand sales, the Suzuki franchise was replaced, in 1992, by one of the first Chrysler Jeep dealerships in the country. Their 4 wheel drive range, coupled with the Chrysler Neon, proving an instant success in the area. A new workshop was built between the showroom and Bear Hotel to accommodate servicing needs.
Dick Lovett (2001-now):
Dick Lovett, a family owned Swindon company, founded in 1959, bought the business in Apr 2001, continuing with a B.M.W. franchise, subsequently obtaining planning permission for construction of a new showroom on the old “Specialist Vehicles” site, (including the public toilets which were demolished).
Feb 2003 Dick Lovett announced that the Chrysler Jeep division of Dick Lovett Companies had moved out of Hungerford to its Swindon branch because of shortage of space. (See "Jeep dealership has outgrown its town premises", NWN 27 Feb 2003).
Dick Lovett redeveloped the site with the new BMW sales unit, completed in 2004, leaving the premises next to The Sun available for their Mini franchise.
In 2018 it became public knowledge that Dick Lovett were aiming to relocate the BMW and Mini garages to a green-field site near Thatcham, to the east of the West Berks Hospital. See "BMW dealer to quit town, NWN 11 Oct 2018. However, these plans were turned down by the planners.
See also:
- Charnham Street Photo Gallery
The Canal Wharf, 2011