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black plaque · Coventry

CALCOTT

Placeholder for CALCOTT black plaque

This black plaque commemorates the historic contributions of Calcott Bros, a significant Coventry manufacturer. Founded in 1885, the company initially focused on cycle manufacturing, with their 'XL' model gaining widespread recognition. Calcott Bros expanded into automobile production in 1913, notably introducing the 'Ten' (10 h.p.) car the following year. A distinctive feature of these vehicles, the radiator design, served as inspiration for this plaque, linking the present memorial directly to the company's automotive legacy. The firm's journey reflects a pivotal period in Coventry's industrial history.

The plaque stands as a testament to Coventry's rich industrial heritage, particularly its role in the development of both the cycle and motor industries. Companies like Calcott Bros were integral to the city's identity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, transforming it into a hub of innovation and manufacturing. The transition from cycle to car production seen at Calcott mirrors broader trends of technological advancement and industrial diversification that characterised the era, contributing to Coventry's reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse. This period also saw the rise of iconic British automotive brands.

The plaque is located at 1 Far Gosford Street in Coventry, affixed to the Renaissance-style office block that was built in 1896. This surviving architectural element, designed by E.J. Purnell, is the only part of the original Calcott Bros premises remaining, as most of the workshops were demolished for student accommodation between 2006 and 2007. Visitors can observe the plaque and the distinctive design which captures the essence of the company's automotive history. The area is publicly accessible for viewing the memorial.

CALCOTT - Calcott Bros and West were established in 1885 and operated from three site before moving here in 1896 as Calcott Bros. The firm originally manufactured cycles, the 'XL' being the best known. In 1913 Calcott produced their first car and introduced the famous 'Ten' (10 h.p.) a year later. A 1921 cabriolet version can be seen in the Coventry Transport Museum, whose radiator inspired the design of this plaque. The ailing Calcott was taken over by Singer in 1926. Astleys acquired the premises a little before the 2nd World War. This well known Coventry firm originally traded as rope, canvas and paint manufacturers. Only the renaissance style office block now survives (1896) designed by E.J. Purnell. Most of the workshops at the rear were demolished to make way for student accommodation (2006-2007) - Coventry City Council & UNITE 2007

Source: Open Plaques. Geographic data via OpenStreetMap.

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Data sources

Location records are drawn from open, licence-clean datasets, kept here with attribution and gratitude to the people who maintain them.

  • Open Plaques, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). See openplaques.org.
  • Wikidata, available under the CC0 1.0 Universal dedication.
  • © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence.
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. War memorial records are drawn from open community datasets (OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, NHLE) - never from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is excluded.

Editorial descriptions, photography and tribute links are original TributeLegacy work, layered on top of the open data.

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