100yr Celebration of Swallow Sidecars (Jaguar) in Blackpool
September 2022
Visit to Blackpool of The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust September 2022
In September 2022 the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust(JDHT) visited Blackpool to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the creation of the Swallow Sidecar Company, the forerunner of Jaguar Cars, in Blackpool.
The JDHT brought 18 cars from Gaydon, The British Motor Museum, to Blackpool. These included historic Jaguars and an Austin 7 Swallow Car built in Blackpool as well as a Swallow Sidecar and Motorbike. Members were also invited to bring their Jaguars and they were all displayed on the Comedy Carpet outside the Blackpool Tower.
In the evening the celebration moved to the Imperial Hotel where they had dinner. The cars were placed on the promenade outside the Imperial.
A Brief History of Swallow Sidecars and Jaguar
In 1922 Swallow Sidecars Co was established in Blackpool by William Lyons and William Walmsley to produce sidecars to a novel design by William Walmsley. William Lyons had great ambitions and they developed an Austin 7 based car. This had some success and soon the factory became too small. In 1928 it was decided to move everything to Coventry close to the main motor industry and their market. Overnight everything was moved including those staff who wished to move.
There was continued success with the SS range of cars and then the SS Jaguar range of cars. William Lyons took out the company name Jaguar Cars in 1937 and after the war when the factories made various war items they changed their name to Jaguar Cars.
Swallow Sidecar at Blackpool September 2022
The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust have created a video of the weekend
Click Here to watch it on YouTube
They are also on Facebook.
July Guest Speaker: Tony Merrygold of The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust
Our meeting of 18th July 2022 was held in Stanley Park Visitor Centre with Tony Merrygold as the guest speaker.
Read more on our news page Click Here
Below Tony Merrygold and Joan Humble our chairman.
Blue Plaque Unveiling for Swallow Sidecars at The Armfield Club 10th January 2023
The Armfield Club, Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, was in 1922 the original factory for Swallow Sidecars who went on to become Jaguar Cars.
The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust had sponsored the Blue Plaque which replaces an older one. For the unveiling they had generously brought from The British Motor Museum, Gaynor, Warwickshire, a Swallow Sidecar with a Brough motorcycle and an Austin Swallow car.
Tony Merrygold of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust with Deputy Mayor Councillor Peter Hunter and Deputy Mayoress Anne-Marie Hunter represented Blackpool Council. Joan Humble represented the Civic Trust. The Armfield Club, Showtown, The Gazette and John Barnet also attended.
Councillor Peter Hunter, Deputy Mayor (the Mayor had other engagements) gave a short speech before unveiling the Blue Plaque.
The Blue Plaque is unveiled
Tony Merrygold sits on the Brough motorcycle and Joan Humble sits in the Swallow Sidecar.
The Austin Swallow, made in Blackpool using an Austin chassis with a Swallow body.
Tony Merrygold presents a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust plaque to the Deputy Mayor.
Joan Humble speaking to the Deputy Mayor in the Armfield Club.
The Armfield Club, refreshments.
The latest Blue Plaque is for Swallow Sidecars at The Armfield Club, Bloomfield Road
10th January 2023
Birthplace of Swallow Sidecars
23 King Edward Street, North Shore, Blackpool. William Walmsley was building sidecars in the garage of number 23 which is now the Berwick Hotel.
Blackpool Heritage Trust
Swallow Side Car & Coach Building Company
Cocker Street, North Shore
Click here to view the Blue Plaque page
Click here to read the report and video in The Gazette, Blackpool Gazette.
Supplementary Information
The Lakeland Motor Museum contains two cars with an association with Blackpool. An SS Jaguar and a TVR. TVR cars were built in Blackpool for over 50years. The museum actually has a number of vehicles with a Blackpool association including two small vans.
