Septimus and his brother Thomas were both enthusiastic cyclists in their young day. During the 1890s Thomas was making bicycles at his Cowpen Quay works and Sep joined him in the business in 1901. I assume this would have been the Station Street works that Thomas had.
By 1908 Sep had his own bicycle shop, the one we saw in the Central Hall at Waterloo. Prior to WW1 Thomas moved from Cowpen Quay to Regent Street.
Thomas had two addresses in the 1921 Trade Directory, 3 Station Street, Cowpen Quay and also 5 Regent Street, Cowpen Quay.
I have seen a photo of the Regent Street shop and works, and they were agents for, Rover Cycles, Star Cycles, Triumph Cycles and Meteor Cycles. As a side line in the business they also did Picture Framing. Hehehe. Odd combination.
I'd have thought Sep moved to Havelock Street after the Central Hall burned down in 1923, though I do not know that for sure. A bit of speculation. In the 1921 Trade Directory he was still listed as trading at 5 Market Place, Waterloo.
Alfred Septimus Mole born 1879 Horton, Waterloo, had a wife Ada nee Ingram and three children, James Henry, Edith Mary and Alfred. They lived at no. 13 Richard Street circa 1910. Sep died 16 October 1958. Probate details tell us that he was of the George & Dragon Hotel, Morpeth and he was a Cycle Dealer with his brother John and his estate valued at £2601 2s! Equivalent to £54,740.65 today (2014).
P
