Description and History of Site:-
Originally built as stone-built house / houses c.1860, with garden, set back from West Park. Converted to a carriage manufactory by early 1870s, with workshops and yard behind. In c.2005 the site was rebuilt as 4 storey stone-built, traditionally styled retail premises and flats. Originally numbered 22 & 23 West Park was built as a residential property. It was renumbered 8 West Park c.1892. Certainly by 1883 and probably up to 10 years earlier, it had been converted to a carriage manufactory. By c.1875 the property was occupied by C Wright & Sons coachbuilders, who had been established in Harrogate in the 1820s. Wright & Sons went into liquidation in 1883. By 1885 Mackay & Fowler, coachbuilders, had moved there from elsewhere in Harrogate. In 1897 the partnership between George Mackay and John Fowler was dissolved. George Mackay remained at 8 West Park as a carriage builder; John Fowler moved to 19 York Place, within a half mile. By 1902 George's sons had joined the business and it was renamed G Mackay & Sons, described as carriage builders. By 1905 they had embraced the automobile and were described as coach builders and motor works, building bodies for cars as well as carriages. In 1925 and 1926 they built bodies on 2 Rolls-Royce 20hp chassis. From 1920 to 1935 they were described as motor engineers. From c.1937 to c.1950 they had become G Mackay & Sons Ltd, motor engineers & agents. From c.1950 they operated Mackay's School of Motoring. By 1959 the business had been taken over by Kennington (Harrogate) Ltd, motor engineers and Kennington School of Motor Engineering. The name changed to Kennings c.1960. Kennings were still there in 1975 when publication of the trade directory ceased. In c.2005 the building was rebuilt as a shop with flats above. In 2016 the shops are occupied by Specialized Concept Store selling bicycles and related accessories.

Further Reading and References:-
Kelly's trade directories for Harrogate.

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Key Words :- coachbuilders carriages cars motor engineers car dealers bicycles

Viewing the Site :- From the road, footpath

Address :- 8 West Park, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 BL
Grid Ref :- SE 30233 54942
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.989645 , Long -1.540392
Local Authority :- Harrogate Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to residential housing
Site Dates :- c.1860 -
Record Date :- 18 November 2016

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Vickers