Background
The three King Brothers (and their two sisters) were born in Godalming, Surrey and were children of Arthur James King (1864-1948) and Edith Hester (nee Seaber) King (1869-1956), who are both buried in Otley Cemetery.
The Family moved to Otley in 1911, some time after the April 1911 Census, in which they were still listed in Godalming.
They lived initially at 54 Boroughgate, the “Old Post Office” where Arthur was Otley Postmaster from 1911-24.
They moved to “Summerfield”, East Busk Lane in 1925, where they stayed until 1947.
Business
c.1918
First motor business was started at Cross Green.
Ivan King was apprenticed to Frank Hargreaves of Wharfedale Garage, Westgate, which had been erected in 1913. Renamed “Manor Garage” pre 1928, and Ivan took over from Hargreaves. He was MD from 1933 until retirement in 1970.
1919
Premises on east side of Station Road were leased for three years (between Kings Hall & Tannery).
1921
Property in Plum Tree Garth, Cross Green purchased from William Alcock, who owned a sawmill on the site. Gerald and Arthur King ran this site.
1923
Garage and large steel workshop built at Cross Green. Petrol pump and tank installed, supplied by Anglo American Oil Co. / Pratts Motor Spirit
Despite the title of the business, there is no evidence of any aviation work. The only link is through Gerald’s pilot license (see below).
1925-27
Three additional pumps installed (one from AAO, two from Shell).
1933
Cross Green Garage re-built.
1933
“KB Special” sports car.
Designed and built at Cross Green, based on a Morris Minor chassis with a modified Morris engine, oak & ash frame with aluminium shell.
847cc engine, 40-45mpg, top speed 70mph, price £155
1935
Plans approved to build a filling station at Bridge End, opposite the end of Farnley Lane. (There is no record of this actually being built).
1959
Cross Green business taken over by Swires Group.
1970
Ivan retired from Manor Garage. Sold to G Eric Hunt of Bramhope, later becoming Lunds of Otley carpet showroom & Golf premises.
The King Brothers
Arthur Hedley King, 1893-1970
Lived at 54 Boroughgate until moving to East View Terrace in 1920 and “Aysgarth”, Harecroft Road around 1931. Married Florence Maud Steel (1895-1949) in 1918 and had two sons: Vaughan Hedley (1922-2006), who was also an engineer in the family business and John Barry (1928-2022), who emigrated to Canada in 1947, where his family still reside.
Arthur and Florence divorced, and he then married Mary Elizabeth Pease (1913-2002) in 1945, with whom he had a third Son, Nigel, in 1949. Died in Winchester.
Gerald James King, 1895-1965
Lived at 54 Boroughgate until moving to “The Bungalow”, East Busk Lane in 1920, Queens Terrance in 1929 and “The Ridge”, Burras Lane in 1934, staying until death in 1965. Married Dorothy Arminson (1900-) in 1920, having a Daughter, June Mary (1924-1994).
Obtained Pilots licence in 1916. Major in RFC, then Squadron Leader in RAF.
Ivan Charles Edward King 1902-1989
Lived at 54 Boroughgate until moving to “Summerfield”, East Busk Lane in 1925 and “Chez Vous”, East Busk Lane in 1929 where he stayed until the 1960s. Married Gladys Muriel Chew (1904-1996) in 1927, having a Daughter, Pamela (1930-). Died in Wrekin, Shropshire.
Sources
Family info: Ancestry.co.uk and Trevor King, Son of Vaughan.
Building Plans / Works plate: Otley Museum
Photos: Otley Museum / Internet / Mr. A Howard
