1926 Rolls-Royce 20hp Windovers Open Tourer GUK4

A lovely example of an original-bodied tourer of handsome design and practical dimensions. one feature of particular note being the large doors giving easy entry and exit. The car is in fine condition throughout. and comes with correct 23” split rim wheels with straight sided tyres. and various. desirable early features. Benefitting from various work and improvements by the last owner. including a re-wire in correct. cotton-covered cable. some excellent nickel plating work. re-painting of the wings. new kingpins. new spring gaiters. overhauling etc. and much more besides. Running sweetly. driving nicely and ready to use.

Chassis No. GUK4. Reg No. BF 5980. £79. 00.

Snippets: Ferries & Fabrics

Sir Arthur C. Cory-Wright 2nd Bt took delivery of GUK4 at Ayot Place. Welwyn which later changed its name to Ayot Montfitchet – he even called his racehorse “Ayot” which in 1928 was a victim of mistaken identity with “Faiza”! The house is built on the site of a monastery and parts of the current house date back to the 15th Century but the majority of what we see today is from the early 17th Century. Sir Arthur's maternal grandfather - Sir Hugh Owen (1804/1881) was born at Y Foel. Llangeinwen on the Isle of Anglesey and was educated at Caernarfon. fortunately there was a direct ferry across the Menai Strait between Y Foel & Caernarfon. The first recorded navigators of the Menai Strait in AD61 were the 14th & 20th Roman Legions who under the command of Seutonius Paulinus invaded Anglesey. their landing sites near Y Foel are still known as the “Field of the Long Battle” and the “Field of Bitter Lamentation”. Sir Arthur's paternal grandfather made his fortune in the shipping & coal industry. Sir Arthur's relatives include Harry Liddell (Alice In Wonderland). Clive Bell – (Bloomsbury Group) & Giles Cory pressed to death on the 19th Sept 1692 for refusing to stand trial during the Salem Witch Trials in the USA! After a few months GUK4 was with Howard J White. motor engineer & watch maker; his father J. White started his business as a watchmaker in 1860 and via his sons Alfred & Howard branched into fine machinery for engines. In 1899 Alfred White formed a partnership with Peter Poppe creating “White & Poppe” of which Howard was a Director. The firm's engines graced cars & motorcycles produced by Swift. Ariel. Clyde. Morris & Singer to mention a few. in fact in the 1906 British International Motor Show 15 different firms had cars with White & Poppe engines. Between 1927 & 1937 GUK4 was with Mrs Henry Brooks-Broadhurst at Houghton House in Carlisle. in 1910 her husband (a scion of the Tootal fabric manufacturing company) shot himself with a revolver whilst suffering from neurasthenia. Mrs. Brooks-Broadhurst was sister-in-law to her own sister – Blanche had married to Henry's brother – Arthur! Margaret & Blanche Stewart are descended from the Stewarts of Physgill & can trace their lineage to Alexander Steward. 4th Hereditary Lord High Steward of Scotland. After Mrs Broadhurst's death in 1937 GUK4 is shown as being in Edinburgh with Sir T Henderson of Edinburgh a hosiery & fabric manufacture of Hawick – who were customers of Tootal fabrics – perhaps Sir Henderson obtained GUK4 from Mrs Broadhurst's estate? His son Captain Thomas Henderson met his future wife through her father's company of Magnus Imports of New York - representatives of the Henderson products in the USA. Capt Thomas moved to the USA in the 1934 and served both British Intelligence and the US Army during WWII for which he was awarded a Bronze Star. After the War he remained in America where he taught intelligence techniques at the Pentagon. As GUK4 is recorded being in America in 1957 perhaps she was imported by Capt Henderson?

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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