Page 24 - Thrapston LIfe July 2022

GLANCE
AT THE
PAST
Eric Franklin looks back
During the late 1800’s Charles Papworth conducted a coachbuilding business in the White Hart Hotel Backway behind the High Street, this being taken over by Arthur Barnett from St Neots in 1897. Finding
the space insufficient for his requirements,
he took over premises in Bridge Street in the early 1900’s where his business continued to thrive, shown below. An early candle-lit coach lamp made by him is shown which is in my collection with the original candle still in place.
His son Sidney worked with his father, who died on Armistice Day 1918, and took over the company.
At some point probably during the 1920’s the business was taken over by Frank Spite, originally from Staffordshire who had served during the Great War with the R.A.S.C. in the Motor Transport section. At some point after 1922 he came to Thrapston where the company continued to thrive. Two pictures of Bridge Street in the 1920’s are shown with Spite’s name displayed prominently. A later picture from, the mid 1930’s shows a view of the back of the works taken from Midland Road.
A 1928 very elaborate letterhead to a Mr Gaunt giving him seven days to settle an overdue account is shown.
By the 1960’s Spites had become part of the Corringdon Group and I am very grateful to Roma for the loan of a video of the works taken during the latter days of the company, and to Margaret for the loan of a video player to enable me to view the tape. Two stills from this video are shown, one of a vehicle entering the works and the other of staff members leaving at the end of the working day.
Spite’s building was demolished in 1989 and
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