Ashley Laminates Ltd
This is a little bit of history about Ashley Laminates Ltd,
it's origins, locations and people within the company.
After the WWII, there was a shortage of cars on the UK home market, one way to get a new-looking vehicle was to buy an old Austin 7 or Ford 10, remove the body and put a new fibreglass sports
one on it and you had your own sports-car,
generally referred to as a Special.
A large number of small companies set up specialising in making such bodies and several were based in north London.
However the industry had largely died out by the early 1960’s.
One company making bodies for specials was
Ashley Laminates Ltd
Ashley Laminates was founded by Keith Waddington and Peter Pellandine in 1955.
The name “Ashley” was derived from the name of
Peter Pellandine’s house "Ashleigh" in Woodford Green.
_________________________________________________________
Their first premises in 1956 was in a small garage adjacent to the Robin Hood Public House, Epping New Road, Loughton. Despite the Loughton address, the premises were actually located about a mile from the town,
deep within Epping Forest on the main Epping Road.
This garage can be seen above in the picture on the LHS of the
Robin Hood PH and below we can clearly see the garage in 1958 with an Ashley 750 heading towards it, alongside the "Tardis" on the kerbside.
(It's now demolished and is the Pub carpark)
Their first premises in 1956 was in a small garage adjacent to the Robin Hood Public House, Epping New Road, Loughton. Despite the Loughton address, the premises were actually located about a mile from the town,
deep within Epping Forest on the main Epping Road.
This garage can be seen above in the picture on the LHS of the
Robin Hood PH and below we can clearly see the garage in 1958 with an Ashley 750 heading towards it, alongside the "Tardis" on the kerbside.
(It's now demolished and is the Pub carpark)
After approximately two years, Ashley Laminates moved
their body manufacture to "The Potteries", Woodgreen Road,
Upshire,
retaining the “Robin Hood” premises as a showroom.
Bert Miller who worked for Ashley Laminates whilst they occupied the above garage said that, "the first task of each day was to move completed shells outside to the front so they had room to do other work. The bodies then had to be returned at the end of the day".
It is not surprising, therefore, that the company moved to the larger "The Potteries" premises in Upshire!
retaining the “Robin Hood” premises as a showroom.
Bert Miller who worked for Ashley Laminates whilst they occupied the above garage said that, "the first task of each day was to move completed shells outside to the front so they had room to do other work. The bodies then had to be returned at the end of the day".
It is not surprising, therefore, that the company moved to the larger "The Potteries" premises in Upshire!
According to Bert, when the company was first based in Upshire it had around nine employees, towards the end of its time at Upshire,
another worker Vic McDonald, said it had grown to about 20 employees, (see photo below), including the two or three normally based in the Robin Hood showroom.
Also during this time Conrad Black's father worked there, Conrad contacted me in October 2013 via my Facebook "Ashley Laminates ports Cars" page to let me know and he also sent me some photo's that his dad had taken back then, (shown below).
another worker Vic McDonald, said it had grown to about 20 employees, (see photo below), including the two or three normally based in the Robin Hood showroom.
Also during this time Conrad Black's father worked there, Conrad contacted me in October 2013 via my Facebook "Ashley Laminates ports Cars" page to let me know and he also sent me some photo's that his dad had taken back then, (shown below).
There were three parts to the Upshire premises, the
large mould shop where bodies were made, the small mould shop where smaller
parts were produced and an assembly shop.
There was also an open area where bodies could be stored.
Sometimes, if there were no customer orders to fulfill, staff would produce models on spec and these would be left here. If a body had been left outside for a while, it required a lot of cleaning before it could be delivered.
On 1st January 1961 the company opened new premises at
Bush Fair, Harlow, Essex.
There was also an open area where bodies could be stored.
Sometimes, if there were no customer orders to fulfill, staff would produce models on spec and these would be left here. If a body had been left outside for a while, it required a lot of cleaning before it could be delivered.
On 1st January 1961 the company opened new premises at
Bush Fair, Harlow, Essex.
The following year however production of bodies ceased,
although the company continued to manufacture it's fibreglass hardtops and bonnets for propriety made sports cars.
Over 8 Years the company had produced four models of bodyshells:
Ashley 750
Ashley Sports Racer
Ashley 1172
Ashley Sportiva
During June 2013 Jim Pailing contacted me regards the address of the Bush Fair factory which I was able to supply, he has a Reliant and was researching the Ashley/Sabra connection.
He managed to find the building and apart from a makeover at the front and side it is still the same building, see photo's below, now home to a security and specialist printing ink company.
He managed to find the building and apart from a makeover at the front and side it is still the same building, see photo's below, now home to a security and specialist printing ink company.
In 1963 the company changed names to Ashley Auto Improvements Ltd and relocated to Twyford Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire.
Making, stocking and selling
fibreglass hardtops and bonnets for propriety made sports cars.
Making, stocking and selling
fibreglass hardtops and bonnets for propriety made sports cars.
This was I believe the last resting place for Ashley Laminates/Auto Improvements until they closed their doors in 1972.
(This building now appears to have been demolished and a large industrial complex constructed all around the area).
I had an email from Angelo in Holland in January 2013 to tell me he had the ex.works Ashley Hardtop stock:
I have a stock of Original Ashley hardtops from the 1960's
(actually the left overs from when the company closed down)
I brought them in the early 1970's from the widow of the owner of Ashley Laminates, most are complete & incl windows, etc...
I have been pleased to be able to direct some current owners of MG Midgets, AH Sprites, MGB's and Triumph Spitfire's to Angelo to supply the last few original Ashley products.
Over the past 5 years, since around 2010, a new company
Ashley GT
has resurrected the Ashley Laminates name and started manufacturing the Ashley Laminates Hardtop's and Bonnet's.
Ashley GT
has resurrected the Ashley Laminates name and started manufacturing the Ashley Laminates Hardtop's and Bonnet's.
They can supply Hardtops and Bonnets for AH Sprite's, MG Midget's and Triumph Spitfire's.
(I even purchased one of their hardtops in 2012 and had it sent to Australia for my restored AH Sprite Mk III)
The End - I think?
(I even purchased one of their hardtops in 2012 and had it sent to Australia for my restored AH Sprite Mk III)
The End - I think?
If you or anyone you know worked at Ashley Laminates Ltd at anytime
or if you have any information or literature about Ashley Laminates
and you would like to see it on this website then
please email me on
[email protected]
or use the contact page on this site to contact me