Bligh Bros
Bligh Bros. or Bligh Brothers of Canterbury was a British coachbuilder initially producing carriages and, in the 20th century, bodies for automobiles. Among the most famous creations by Bligh are the unique race cars known as Chitty Bang Bang, which inspired the book Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang by author Ian Fleming and the later film adaptation, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Company History
.jpg?lang=en)
Bligh was based in the southeast English city of Canterbury. The company was founded in 1812 by William Bligh, who initially worked as a wheelwright. By the mid-19th century, his sons William, John, Jasper, and Henry took over the business. Around 1860, the company started producing complete carriages.[1] Initially, Bligh mainly served local clients from the county of Kent, but around 1870, it expanded to London. The Bligh brothers opened a showroom in the city center at Covent Garden. In the British capital, the company achieved several successes; Bligh's designs won awards at national and international exhibitions multiple times.[2]
With the increasing popularity of automobiles at the beginning of the 20th century, numerous British carriage manufacturers shifted their production to automobile bodies. Examples include Barker, Maythorn, and Rippon Brothers. Whether Bligh Bros. also followed this path in the first decade of the 20th century is unclear. However, it is certain that during this period, Bligh faced financial difficulties, had to give up the showroom in London, and was bankrupt by 1913.[2]
After the end of World War I, Bligh was taken over by the Polish Count Louis Zborowski, who lived at the Higham Park estate near Canterbury. Zborowski, a passionate amateur racing driver, constructed four race cars, which he named Chitty Bang Bang. Some of them were equipped with airplane engines. Bligh produced the bodies.[3] At the same time, Bligh produced bodies for road vehicles from Aston Martin and Hispano-Suiza,[4], unique pieces which were commissioned by Zborowski.
After Zborowski's accidental death in October 1924 at the Italian Grand Prix, Bligh ceased coachbuilding. The company focused on repairing automobiles and car trading. Over the following decades, numerous branches were added to the main headquarters in Canterbury, throughout eastern Kent. The business eventually closed in 1974.[2]
The building on Radigund Street in Canterbury, where Bligh Bros. had its headquarters, still exists.[5]
Literature
Nick Walker: A–Z of British Coachbuilders 1919–1960. Shebbear 2007 (Herridge & Sons Ltd.) ISBN 978-0-9549981-6-5.
External links
References
- ^ Summary of the history of Count Louis Zborowski on the website www.canterbury-buildings.org.uk (accessed on June 27, 2015).
- ^ a b c Nick Walker: A–Z of British Coachbuilders 1919–1960. Shebbear 2007 (Herridge & Sons Ltd.) ISBN 978-0-9549981-6-5, p. 80.
- ^ Image of Chitty Bang Bang II (1921) (accessed on June 28, 2015).
- ^ Image of a Hispano Suiza H6B with a Bligh body (accessed on 20th April 2024).
- ^ Image of the building on the website www.geograph.org.uk (accessed on 24th April 2024).
