The following appeared in the September issue of My Croxley magazine. I hope it is of interest.
NEW ROAD GARAGE – 80 YEARS OF HISTORY
Older residents of Croxley Green may remember New Road Garage being a Blacksmiths many years ago. For those who don't remember, the establishment on New Road certainly has a big history behind it, with one resident seeing it change over the last 80 years. Henry Gibbs, 89, of Grove Crescent, grew up in the village before being called up for the Navy for the Second World War. His grandparents moved to the village in 1898, where his grandfather, Jessie Gibbs, bought a Blacksmiths shop, which was next to where the Sportsman Pub now stands, opposite All Saints Church. In 1900, the property on New Road, now New Road Garage, became available, and he moved his business to the larger establishment, along with his family who took up residence next door. "The building was bigger and he could offer more services. The old building was purely a Blacksmiths and Farrier establishment, but the one on New Road offered painting and sign writing services - the full treatment." The business was run by Henry's father and his three uncles, Dennis, Walter and Wally Chapman. Henry lived at number 46 New Road before the war, and was 21 when he was called up to the RNWR (RN volunteer Wireless Reserve). He was useful with Morse Code, so decided he would go into the Navy, rather than be pushed. He married whilst on some leave, before returning to an Armed Merchant Cruiser because of poor eyesight. He spent time in Canada and on Atlantic convoys, before being recalled in 1940, because of his eyes - and became shore-based for the remainder of the war. He then moved to Mill End with his wife until 1977, during which time the Blacksmiths closed. His cousins Arnold and Reginald subsequently reopened it as a garage - calling it Mead Autos. "I don't know what happened after they bought it," he said. Henry moved back to the village in 1977, where, he says, he has spent many happy years. Looking at the building now, Henry says that it still looks the same from the outside, and brings back to him happy memories of his childhood. "I was the youngest of seven and I'm the last one still alive. I still remember the happy times we had as a family, and the Blacksmiths on New Road played a big part in that."
www.mycroxley.netGrundy
