MOTORING MEMORIES overleaf
A Fond Farewell to Colyford's
MOTORING MEMORIES The end of September sees the closure of Motoring Memories at Colyford, Robin Barnard's unique museum of motoring memorabilia, housed in an historic 1920s petrol station Motoring Memories was the conception of Robin Barnard, who, having owned and run the Colyford Filling Station for a number of years, decided to preserve it for posterity. What's notable about this 1928 petrol station is the pleasing architectural style. Very often, travelling through some pretty rural village, it's staggering how often a beautiful amble back in time can be violently punctuated by a 'modern' petrol station. Not so in Colyford, the Tudor style facade melds beautifully into this village. Originally, this station was the foresight of a local farmer, a Mr Davey, and it was in a day and age when hand operated petrol pumps could appear on roadside barns. Mr Davey, having seen the timber framed station at Countess Wear, commissioned a local architect to produce a design along the same lines. The station was completed in 1928, with four hand-operated pumps being fitted. Fuel was supplied by Shell, National Benzole and BP.
Right - Robin Barnard surveying his collection. If you haven't already visited, make sure you get there before it closes at the end of September 2011
At the time, Devon County Council considered this petrol station to be a model of design, many petrol stations at the time being totally unplanned and haphazard with gaudy signs dominating the roadside.
Cloud Hill to the Royal Airforce site at Mountbatten, Plymouth. With the outbrake of the 2nd World War, pooled petrol was rationed and this didn't end until the 1950s, when Mr Davey's son returned from service to re-join his father's business. The 1950s saw a steady increase in petrol sales. As the early 1960s approached, many petrol stations tied to single petrol suppliers such as BP, Shell, National Benzole, etc. Again the 1960s saw a steady increase in fuel sales with increasing affluence and car ownership.
In the early 1930s, one of the station's famous visitors was Lawrence of Arabia, who regularly called in to have a chat and fill up his mighty Brough Superior enroute from his Dorset home at
The 1970s saw the station change hands to a Mr Stevens, however fuel volumes were low and consequently Shell ended its contract. The station continued in to the 1980s with Mr Stevens deciding to sell the site for development , the plans including the total demolition of the site and station. Luckily, Robin Barnard appeared, having many memories of station, came to the rescue and
managed to prevent the demolition by purchasing the site off Mr Stevens. In 1999 Shell offered to revamp the station in line with their unified corporate design, fortunately Robin declined and decided to go against the grain by returning the station forecourt to a 1950s appearance. Petrol sales continued until 2001, when the low margins meant that it was no longer viable to continue trading. This conclusion thankfully, was not the end for the filling station, as Robin was able to indulge his passion for motoring by turning this historic petrol station into a motoring memorabilia museum. I visited the museum in July and chatting to Robin, I was struck by his sheer dedication to the collection and the petrol station's history. I it was fairly evident that Robin held many happy memories of his days both of motoring in East Devon and also of his time at this site. Speaking personally, I think we owe a great debt to people like Robin, he's really gone out of his way, not to cash in, but to take the difficult route to preserve something that both himself and many of us find extremely evocative.
The sad news is that Robin, after many years of dedication, has decided to sell the collection of memorabilia. He's going to keep hold of and preserve the station building, but in his retirement years he's recognised that his extensive collection needs a secure home to preserve it safely. If you're a collector, particularly if you're based in East Devon, then please contact Robin, as he's keen for the collection to say in this part of the world. Most of the items in the collection have a local connection, for instance as we were walking round the museum, Robin pointed to one of the petrol pumps retrieved from a farm in Whitford, apparently farms used to have these old pumps to supply their farm machinery. He also pointed to a petrol pump that had come from a station in Axminster, which he said had been in operation for many years. Who knows how many of Axminster's motorists had pulled up alongside for their supply. What's particularly impressive in the museum is the collection of old signs, many are the old enamel ones which are particularly vibrant, event now. It's provides a very interesting insight into the marketing tactics of companies in the early 20th century.
It really is a fascinating collection and I urge you to see it before it closes at the end of September. May I thank Robin on our behalf for preserving these items which he saved from being lost forever. - Nigel Jones
If you're based in the area and could host Robin's collection, then please make contact as Robin's very keen for the collection to say in this part of the world.
Lawrence of Arabia used to refill at Colyford Petrol Station on his way to Mountbatten in Plymouth
Below - Motoring Memories site at the historic Colyford petrol station