Garages, transport and engineering
Stowupland’s garage has had many rebuilds and re-brandings over the last 100 + years. Currently it is owned by the Co-0p having had a complete rebuild in the 2020’s.
For more about other forms of transport in and around Stowupland see Transport and railways
Frank Burch (1877 -1965) was a phenomenal engineer, mechanical and chemical. He was acclaimed locally for his ability to build motorised vehicles from scratch, where necessary even designing the tools needed for construction.Aound the 1940s he repaired Agricultural Machinery from a workshop first near Elm farm and then on the corner of Saxham Street. A bungalow now stands on this site.
This 1930s map shows the location of Fir Tree Cottage (tm 461). In the 1960s, according to local resident Ena Carter, it was known as Conifers. Note the absence of today’s A1120 which now runs down parallel to Mill Street.
October 13th 1930 T.J.Burch signed a tithe redemption form, which confirms Fir Tree Cottage was on field no 461
In the 1940s Jack Burch sold petrol and did cycle repairs from a house (Fir Tree Cottage or aka Conifers ) near where the present garage stands. He had 2 petrol pumps. In 1958 Albert Cooper remembered one gallon of petrol costing 4s 3d. or 4.7p a litre (Telstar, June 2020). At the time of writing (2022) it is currently £1.56.9 a litre.
The following is from memories compiled by Jennifer Wilsher (nee Salmon), Margaret Salmon, Glenda Atkins, Kelvin Clarke, Keith Welham and Pip Wright. The top photographs show proprietor Jack Burch with the first petrol pumps. Later, pumps and a garage shop was set up to the right (as viewed from the front), while the detached property (see above) was fronted with a short red brick wall about 30 inches high, almost curb side.
Gordon Leeks bought the house and petrol station in 1963. The ground floor of the house was converted to a ladies’ hair salon and let first to Mr Hazel of Stowmarket, then to Jennifer Salmon. “Jennie Hair Stylist” ran from 29th August, 1969 to mid-1970. The flat above the salon was at some time let to Mr & Mrs Pip Wright. They paid no rent: pip worked on the petrol pumps at weekends.
The property was demolished in April 1973 and the petrol station was remodelled and extended by Goron Leeks who also built the bungalow at the rear. The family managed a camp site with caravans in the field behind the petrol station.
In April 1982 Mr Brian Leeks and Mr Ivan Leeks applied for planning permission to use a former showroom as a shop.
In 1982 planning permission was sought for the erection of a replacement canopy over the forecourt of Stowupland service Station.
The photos of the remodelling of Stowupland Service station were donated to Stowupland Archives by Glenda Atkins, the granddaughter of Gordon Leeks. The photo of the new Co-Op service station was donated by Neil Langridge.
