Showroom History
The town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent could be considered the birthplace of the British automotive retail industry thanks to Sir David Lionel Salomons, a prominent scientist and pioneer motoring enthusiast who hosted the first ever public demonstration of a motorised vehicle at the Tunbridge Wells Agricultural Showground on Tuesday 15th October 1895
The ‘Horseless Carriage Exhibition’ was reported in the inaugural issue of motoring publication ‘The Autocar’ and firmly established the town as a major automotive hub, inspiring the rapid growth of specialist motorcar and motorcycle dealers, motor auctioneers, coachbuilders and motor engineering workshops. Join us as we take a journey back through the rich automotive history of Royal Tunbridge Wells
1873
Broomhill, Tunbridge Wells - The magnificent country home of the Salomons family for over 100 years, redeveloped in the 1850s by Sir David Salamons, Lord Mayor of London and the first Jewish Sheriff of the City of London. His Son David Lionel Salamons inherited the estate in 1873 and would later host his 'Horseless Carriage Exhibition' at the Tunbridge Wells Agricultural Showground in 1895
1895 - 15th October
The programme for the inaugural motor show in the UK, the first ever public display of a motorised vehicle and the birth of the British Motor Show! 'Horseless Carriage Exhibition organised by Sir David Salomons, Tunbridge Wells Agricultural Showground'
1895 - 15th October
Horseless Carriage Exhibition - Sir David Lionel Salomons, a pioneering motoring enthusiast sits proudly aboard his two-cylinder, 3.5hp Daimler-engined Peugeot at the event on his grounds. Salamons was a highly respected scientist whose passion and research on electrical science led him to chair the company that electrified most of London
1895- 15th October
The Honourable Evelyn Ellis parades his 3.5hp Panhard-Levassor at the exhibition, the first foreign built motorcar to be imported to the UK. Ellis had ordered the car to his own specification in left-hand drive, when French cars were right-hand drive and it had been driven from the Paris factory to Le Havre, shipped to Southampton and taken by train to Micheldever, from where he illegally drove it 56 miles to his home in Datchet, at an average speed of a whopping 10mph!!
1895 - 2nd November
THE AUTOCAR - Journal published in the interests of the mechanically propelled road carriage - The first issue of the worlds oldest car magazine focused entirely on Salamons event, causing nationwide interest in the new fangled motorised vehicles observed by awe struck reporters on the day
1902
David Lionel Salomons at the wheel of a newly acquired motorcar in 1902 with his chauffeur George Barclay travelling in the rear dickey seat. George Barclay was awarded a medal by the Automobile Club de France as a 'mechanicien' and 1897 described himself as 'motor coachman' before receiving one of the very first driving licences issued in 1904
1903
London Road - Looking North from the Pantiles, the workshops of carriage company 'AA Cundell' are clearly visible on the left hand side opposite the Grand Hotel where the Royal Springs Appartments are located today. The firm would soon turn their attention to the coach building and sale of motorcars
1905
Cundell and Dungey Ltd, Motor Proprietors - This advert shows the firm diversifying into cars as well as offering riding lessons and horse drawn services, proudly stating 'SOLE AGENTS KENT, SUSSEX AND SURREY FOR CADILLAC CARS' - This was the first Cadillac concession in the south of England
1907
J.Rawsons and Sons Engineers - the site was taken over from Cundell by Rawsons, a sales concession at the time for Armstrong Siddely cars who employed Mr G.Stevenson. One year later in 1908 Mr Stevenson submitted plans to erect a new building on the site directly next door to operate his own business 'G.Stevenson Kent and Sussex Garage Ltd'
1908 -November
Application for approval of plans by G.Stevenson to begin construction on our showroom, submitted to the Borough Surveyors Dept at Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells and date stamped 12th November 1908
1908
Amended plan of garage London Road - Mr G Stevenson
1909
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert -'SOLE AGENTS FOR THE DISTRICT FOR ITALA AND VAUXHALL CARS'
1910
OUR SHOWROOM - The earliest known image of our building is this wonderful image showing the newly erected showrooms built for 'G.Stevenson Engineers - The Kent and Sussex Garage Ltd' The motorcars seem to attract great attention from the public and the same applies 115 years later!
1910
G.Stevenson Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert- 'G.STEVENSON BEG TO ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO SECURE THE SOLE AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT FOR THE FAMOUS WOLSELEY- SIDDELEY CARS'
1911
Founded in 1911, the TWMC orignally stood for Tunbridge Wells Motorcycle Club is one of the oldest motor clubs in the UK holding competitive events such as Mud Reliability Trials, Night Trials and Treasure Hunt for motorcycle solos and combinations. Among the stars of the early days were Bill Jury, Freddie Philpott and ‘Tunny’ Tunbridge, who all owned local motorcycle businesses
1913
Marching on -These brave young soldiers march past our showroom en route to sacrifice their lives for king and country
1913
Officers on horseback lead the artillery regiment past our showroom and head north on the London Road. By this time Stevensons also offered Wolseley motorcars as can be seen on the side of the building
1914
G.Stevensons - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - the firm proudly announces their appointment as 'SOLE DISTRICT AGENTS FOR FORD CARS'
1915
G.Stevenson expands their operation with their new large garage at Cumberland Yard, Mount Sion. In a local news report they commented- 'An advertiser representative had the privilege of inspecting these capacious new premises and was struck not only by the clever manner in which the garage has been built but also the air of thoroughness in every detail'
1915
London Road - Hive of Morris motoring activity here with our building visible to the right of Rawsons painted 'PRIVATE LOCK UP'
1917
AUCTION SALES OF MOTORS - a scene at the successful fortnightly auction sale of Motors, Motorcycles, Accessories etc held at the Sussex Shades, Tunbridge Wells, by Mr W. Banfield. The town was a motoring hub and enjoyed thriving trade in the sale of motorcars and motorcycles
1918
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'HIGH CLASS CARS FOR HIRE - REPAIRS A SPECIALITY' - This advert appeared soon after the appointment of J.T.Clarke as managing director of the firm. Clarke was previously employed by Rawsons next door!
1919
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - the firm announces their closure for 'PEACE DAY JULY 19th 1919' - their services must have been in high demand as the advert states 'WE CAN SUPPLY OUR CUSTOMERS UP TO FRIDAY NIGHT AND AFTER SUNDAY MORNING'
1921
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'MOTORING LUXURY' The firm offer a selection of new Wolseley models with the 'Ten Two seater model' depicted
1922
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'WE CAN GIVE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OF THE FOLLOWING CARS - OVERLAND - CHEVROLET - LAGONDA - COVENTRY PREMIER'
1923
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - The firm offers new 'CHEVROLET TOURING CAR COMPLETE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY £225'
1924
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - The firm offers 'REDUCED PRICES' on latest selection of FIAT motorcars
1925
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'THE ALL BRITISH STANDARD SALOON NOW MODERATELY PRICED AT £255 - TRIAL RUN ARRANGED WITHOUT OBLIGATION'
1926
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'HUMBER FEATHER WEIGHT STEERING! HUMBER STEERING IS ESSENTIALLY LIGHT AND THE ELIMINATION OF PLAY CAUSED BY WEAR ENSURES ABSOLUTE DEPENDABILITY AT ALL TIMES'
1927
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'TRIUMPH CARS - FIFTEEN AND SUPER SEVEN WHICH WILL BE THE SENSATION OF THE MOTOR SHOW STAND 11 OLYMPIA - ENQUIRE FOR PARTICULARS AND CATALOGUES, ALSO AGENCY TERMS FROM SOLE DISTRIBUTORS FOR KENT'
1928
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'CHRYSLER 65 - HER SPEED SIXTY FIVE MILES AN HOUR AND MORE. HER ENGINE - SILVER DOME- HIGH EFFICIENCY, SIX CYLINDERS, COUNTERWEIGHTED SEVEN BEARING CRANKSHAFT. COME AND SEE THIS CHRYSLER 65 IN OUR SHOWROOMS TODAY - G.STEVENSON - KENT AND SUSSEX GARAGES LTD'
1929
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'THE CHRYSLER 75 IS HERE- AND THE PRICE, MOST MODERATE! SEE THE CHRYSLER 75 IN OUR SHOWROOMS. TEST IT ON THE ROAD. TO DO SO COSTS YOU NOTHING!'
1933
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'THIS WEEKS BEST BARGAINS IN RELIABLE USED CARS - NEXT BEST TO A NEW CARS IS A RELIABLE USED CAR BOUGHT FROM STEVENSON'S OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS. TRIAL RUNS WITHOUT OBLIGATION'
1935
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'SPECIAL DISPLAY OF SS CARS... A CAR FOR THE DISCRIMINATING - THE KEENLY CRITICAL AT OUR SHOWROOMS MAY 27TH TO JUNE 3RD'
1935
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'SPECIAL DISPLAY OF SS CARS... A CAR FOR THE DISCRIMINATING - THE KEENLY CRITICAL AT OUR SHOWROOMS MAY 27TH TO JUNE 3RD'
1936
Tunbridge Wells Advertiser - G.Stevenson (Kent and Sussex Garage Ltd) of London Road advertise their current stock of used Daimler and Lanchester motorcars. The advert is titled 'A WELL KEPT CAR OF A FIRST CLASS MAKE' .. Today is more focused on Aston Martin than Daimler but our philosophy remains the same
1937
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'WE ARE SELLING MORE WOLSELEYS TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE - MORE MOTORISTS IN THE DISTRICT ARE BUYING WOLSELEY CARS BECAUSE THEY REALISE THAT ON SPECIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE, THEY REPRESENT VALUE FOR MONEY THAT HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN OFFERED'
1939
G.Stevenson - Kent and Sussex Garages Ltd - Advert - 'STEVENSONS WOLSELEY - MORE THAN 30 YEARS CLOSE ASSOCIATION. OVER THIRTY YEARS AGO STEVENSONS TOOK OVER DISTRIBUTION OF WOLSELEY CARS, WE SHOWED THEN THAT WE KNEW A GOOD THING WHEN WE SAW IT!'
1947
TWMC RESTARTS -Following the disruption of the war the club was restarted in 1947 by Rt. Hon. The Earl Howe CBE, The Earl of Lewes OBE and Lt-Col A.T. Goldie Gardner OBE and the TWMC became the TUNBRIDGE WELLS MOTOR CLUB; cars were also represented by their own committee with motorcycles almost disappearing from the club. The first events for cars started in 1947 with what would become the annual Rally consisting of Concours d’Elegance and driving tests
1955
Stevensons Brochure - 'STEVENSONS FOR BETTER MOTORING IN ALL ITS ASPECTS - SALES - SERVICE - REPAIRS - HIRE'
1959
Stevensons Brochure - 'STEVENSONS MOTORS LTD - DISTRIBUTORS FOR DAIMLER - STANDARD - TRIUMPH'
1963
Stevensons Motors Ltd offer the chance to acquire the new Volvo Amazon model 'FOR THE FORTUNATE FEW'
1964
STANDARD TRIUMPH agents STEVENSONS - The newly launched Triumph 2000 Saloon glistens in the Kentish sunshine offered alongside a used Mini at £395 and new Austin 1100 at the top of the forecourt
1964
STEVENSONS - The salesman leans on a nearly new Rover P5 whilst the used Austin A35 Van is offered at an attractive £275!
1964
Stevensons Motors Ltd promote the latest Triumph Vitesse with its 'SIX CYLINDER BRILLIANCE' and Herald 12/50 which 'BRINGS YOU SALOON CAR COMFORT WITH A TAILORED SOFT TOP'
1966
- following the second horseless carriage exhibition held in 1961 on the Pantiles, the Tunbridge Wells Motor Club followed suit with the third event on June 11th 1966, hosted by eight time world speed record breaker Donald Campbell
1966
3RD HORSELESS CARRIAGE EXHIBITION - Vehicles ANCIENT and MODERN - 1899 BENZ - 1966 FORD GT40 - 'IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE WHICH REFLECTED THE GLORY OF GLEAMING CHROME, BRASS AND BODYWORK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS MOTOR CLUB ATTRACTED A RECORD CROWD OF WELL OVER 12,000 VISITORS'
1967
HALF A SIXPENCE - Actor Tommy Steele plays Arthur Kipps, an orphan apprenticed to a tyrannical owner of a mercantile who has an abrupt change of life when his wealthy grandfather dies and leaves him a pile of money, filmed in the Pantiles
1971
Stevensons Motors Ltd offering a selection of new and used Land-Rover motorcars
1973
STEVENSONS MOTORCARE CENTRE - Buyers had the choice of a number of fine vehicles from the British Leyland range, the Maroon 1971 Jaguar 4.2 XJ6 with electric windows priced at £2595 would have been my choice!
1974
Simon Templar passes by the showroom in his Volvo P1800! Photo taken from Mount Sion showing the large workshops of Rawsons with a Rover P6 and Fiat Saloon on the forecourt of Stevensons
1977
MOTOR Caravan Sales - The traffic seems somewhat lighter on the London Road in the late seventies, with vans and caravans being the order of the day at the showroom
1980
PACE PETROLEUM - Triumph TR7 fills up next to a copper coloured Ford Cortina Mk4 Estate, both popular cars in the day and seldom seen today. By 1980 Victor Gauntlett had created one of Britain's biggest independent petrol suppliers in the form of PACE and subsequently acquired a 10% stake of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd later that year
1982
Starline USED CARS - The three door Range Rover in White heads up the latest offerings from the Starline stable on a damp winter morning
1998
PK MOTORS SUZUKI - Long established PK Motors occupied the site throughout the 90s and remain as popular as ever on another site in Tunbridge Wells to this very day
2013
Kent 4x4 - The finest selection of used 4x4 vehicles available in Tunbridge Wells! The chromed grille of a Jeep Cherokee can be seen on the forecourt behind the passing Vauxhall Vectra
2022- APRIL
UNDER OFFER! Following a two year vacant period after its use as Westminster Garden Furniture TW branch, we struck a deal to take over the showrooms and restore them back to their former glory with our own twist
2022 - JULY
Blue Monday - The showroom transformation begins
2022 - AUGUST
Volante tries the showroom out for size - I was itching to get the first car in the showroom to try and envisage the layout and lighting arrangement
2022- SEPTEMBER
Cracking on! The much needed removal of the 80s suspended ceiling and restoration of the original steels in DM company colours
2022- OCTOBER
Tough day at the office - the construction of the office takes shape utilising the locally reclaimed windows and doors
2022- NOVEMBER
Finishing touches as we prepare to cover the walls with automotive artwork of all shapes and sizes
2022- DECEMBER
DECEMBER - The first cars are displayed in the showroom following its extensive refurbishment
2023- JANUARY
DYLAN MILES opens the doors of the historic showrooms at London Road following an exacting restoration with a focus on preserving the rich automotive history of the building and surrounding area
2023
Grand Opening Party - Hosted and officially opened by actor and motoring enthusiast Steve Coogan with supporting charity auction held by Drew Pritchard of Salvage Hunters and William Smith of RM Sothebys
2023
Getting a steer on things - These door handles took in excess of 150 hours to fabricate and are exact replicas of an original DB4/5/6 steering wheel, bespoke construction by family friend Peter Bignell for the new showroom
2023
Showroom images shot for 545 Magazine
2023
Showroom images shot for 545 magazine
2023
Smiles for Miles!
2023
Well used library!!