Coach and Harness Manufactory, Erick Street

Northumberland Coach and Harness Manufactory. Shown on Ordnance Survey second edition. John Matthews of Northumberland and Newcastle Society notes that the premises were owned by famous coachbuilders Atkinson and Philipson. The address of the premises was No. 27 Pilgrim Street but the garage ran back from Pilgrim Street to Erick Street (site now occupied by multi storey car park and Dex Garage). The company was established in 1794. There is a commemorative stone on the ground floor of Dex Garage (HER 12902) which says 'ESTABLISHED 1794 REBUILT 1839'. Perhaps it was rebuilt after a fire. The premises later became the garage of Hale and Company. This firm were responsible for the first passenger coach built for the Stockton and Darlington Railway. They advertised a steam powered horseless carriage built at Pilgrim Street in 1896. They also built four wheeled Broughton style horse drawn ambulances for the Metropolitan Asylums Board in 1876. These cost £87 each. Slide out stretchers cost extra.