Description and History of Site:-
The Jowett Cars Ltd factory was built in 1919, on the site of a quarry at Springfield, Idle. It was sold to International Harvester in 1954 and demolished in 1983. It is now the site of Morrisons supermarket, on the Enterprise Way Industrial Park. Jowett was established in 1901 by brothers Benjamin and William Jowett, with Arthur Lamb. They began by making bicycles and then small engines to power machinery. In 1904 they became the Jowett Manufacturing Company, at 50 Grosvenor Road, Bradford, building their first car in 1906. Meanwhile, they also built the first Scott motor cycles, until their production was transferred, c1908 to Scott's Mornington Works also in Grosvenor Road. Production of the Jowett car began in 1910. Jowett Cars Ltd was established in 1919 and a new works site - a disused quarry - was acquired at Springfield, Bradford Road, Idle. Car production began in 1920. Jowett cars established a reputation for excellent power for small engine size, reliability and economy. Production of commercial vehicles began in 1922. Engine and chassis design developed during the 1920s / 30s, a sports model was added to the range, and the company became public in 1935. When production recommenced after WWII the range of commercial vehicles and cars was expanded. Models included the Bradford van, an estate car, the 1946 Jowett Javelin streamlined saloon and, in 1950, the Jupiter sports car. The latter were built at Idle, but the bodies for Javelins and Bradford vans were produced in Doncaster by Briggs Motor Bodies at their purpose-built plant. A combination of poor management, inability to produce and sell the expected numbers together with the termination of body supply by Briggs, who were bought by Ford in April 1953, ended production of Javelins and vans. Production of Jupiters continued at Idle until the end of 1954. The factory was sold to International Harvester, except the small area required for servicing and the production of spare parts that continued until 1963. The factory was demolished in 1983. Jowett switched to manufacturing parts for the Blackburn & General Aircraft Company in a former woollen mill at Howden Clough, Birstall. Blackburn took over the Jowett company in 1956.

Further Reading and References:-
Culshaw, D and Horrobin, P. The complete catalogue of British cars. Macmillan, 1974.
Inventions in transport from Bradford: The Jowett Motor Manufacturing Company. Learning article provided by: Leeds Library and Information Service. http://www.mylearning.org/inventions-in-transport-from-bradford/p-2110/

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Key Words :- cars vans commercial vehicles bodywork tractors aircraft engineering manufacturing

Address :- Bradford Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD10 8SA
Grid Ref :- SE 17628 36586
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.825248 , Long -1.733684
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1919 - 1983
Record Date :- 16 December 2016

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