IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mount Street, STOURBRIDGE, DY8 1JA

These premises were originally a National Benzole Petrol an Service Station ... see ... Image and additional links. As at 2013 the premises are being used by companies trading as Mechanically Sound and H2 Hand Car Wash ... with Sheds for sale where once were second-hand cars.

I lived at this garage from 1958 to 1963, where my father was employed as Manager. The garage was part of the National Benzole chain, which in turn was part of the Shell-BP group. At the time of this and the linked photographs, the National Benzole Mr Mercury logo was of the old style ... a more modern Mr Mercury was introduced in the late 1959 / early 1960 period. Behind the garage building, the pointed roof of the building situated behind and below the garage can be seen. I believe this to have been Bedcote Mill. Whilst I lived there, the mill was used to produce wooden articles, including (I believe) handles for Betterware products. The building has now been demolished. To the left of the garage was Simmonds Engineering ...and its sign and gate can be seen. The River Stour was immediately behind the garage and mill ... and I recall that at one point it overflowed and flooded the mill yard with some of the stacked logs floating away (but probably not very far!) There were houses opposite the garage, built on and behind an earth and grass bank ... and this picture is taken from the banking, which, as can be seen, was quite bare ... today the grass and trees are much more prominent. For a view in 2006 ... see ... Image For more 1959 views ... see ... Image Image Image Image Image

For full details ... see ... Image For a view in 2006 ... see ... Image For more 1959 views ... see ... Image Image Image Image

The date at the top of the building is 1914. The sign still adorning the front says "Minnesota Fats American Fun Bar". It was apparently a snooker hall with bar facilities but there is no fun to be had here now, as the building is firmly boarded up. In 2006 planning permission was given, with conditions, to demolish the building and replace it with a three storey apartment block. Over two years later this has still to happen. Update: Some time after this picture was taken, the building was demolished, and the construction of new apartments on the site commenced. By the end of June 2010, these appeared to be nearing completion. Image

A recent housing development.

For full details see ... Image This view shows Bedcote Mill more clearly ... which was immediately behind and below the garage. One of the Gas Companies Gasometers can be seen on the horizon. For a view in 2006 ... see ... Image For more 1959 views ... see ... Image Image Image Image

For full details ... see ... Image Note the advertising poster for Super National petrol. For a view in 2006 ... see ... Image For more 1959 views ... see ... Image Image Image Image

For full details ... see ... Image The row of cars on the right were 'used cars for sale' ... with (I believe) a Bob Stinton in charge. And it wasn't only cars for sale ... somewhere I have a picture showing a used Speedboat for sale. For a view in 2006 ... see ... Image For more 1959 views ... see ... Image Image Image Image