I set out trying to find an early car garage in Barry and District. I did find several, but was intrigued by this building this week with a long history, over 135 years in fact.
Thanks to the Facebook Barry and District Museumeers, in particular John Anzevino and Joseph Solowyk, for help with the history this week. We are examining the car garage of W. F. Holmes and Son, at the Northwestern end of Evans Street, Barry. The official records indicate that they may have been based in this Lias Limestone with a redbrick building since the 1960s, after establishing themselves in Barry at a different location in 1945. However, this three-bayed building fronting onto Evan Street has a far deeper history than that.
We show the Southern part of the three-bayed structure, with windows blocked up in the past in other parts of the building. When was this structure built in the past, and what for? You may ask! The Ordnance Survey show the building was there by 1898, and had existed as far back as 1892, if not just before.
Various press reports and oral history state that the current successful garage of W. F. Holmes and Son had different uses. In particular, in 1925 and 1928 was advertised as belonging to the then Victoria Hotel, and being let out for anything to accommodate, for example: 12 buses, offices, a store or even as a shop. The building is a very spacious structure indeed. But, let’s go back to 1892!
The Victoria Hotel in 1892 had used this location as a Stable and Mews: temporary accommodation for staff, and storage of carriages and horse tack etc. The Victoria Hotel had been a very successful establishment.
Then reporting in the Barry Dock News of October 21, 1898, our Stables and Mews was, we believe, the place referred to in the article as the Workshop and Mews at the Top of Evans-Street. And the business accommodated here then was, John Jones and Sons, Undertakers and Jobmasters, Funeral Furnishers and Directors! Maybe until 1925, but that is just a guess. Then the history of the building is a bit sketchy.
It had been the home of H. R. Paul builders merchant, at least into the 1960s, but when they acquired it from the Victoria Hotel we do not know.
The Holmes brothers took over the building we believe sometime in the 1960’s, but is this correct?
In fact, it would be great to hear from readers of the Barry and District in regards to this building. Please email: Karljlangford@hotmail.com
Many thanks for reading about our interesting history within the Barry and District.
