Penny Farthing rides high in town for 115 years

14 hours ago

John Devinein March

The first Penny Farthing was placed on the garage in 1911, a former occupier said, and various versions have remained on the roof ever since

John Devine/BBC A model penny farthing bicycle with the sun behind it sits on top of a building, about 5m (16ft) up in the air. Traffic lights are partly visible and reflections in the glass windows show houses and cars. — The first Penny Farthing was placed on the garage in 1911, a former occupier said, and various versions have remained on the roof ever since

A Fenland garage that has had various versions of a Penny Farthing on its roof for well over a century said the bike continued to be part of the "everyday fabric of life" in the town.

Martyn Hopkins has worked at the garage in March, Cambridgeshire, since 1986, and renamed it after the Victorian-era bicycle when he took over the business seven years ago.

He said the unusual landmark had become so well known that people even referenced it when giving directions.

Colin Bedford, who ran the site in the 1960s and '70s and later set up a local vintage cycle club, has discovered that variants of the bike have sat on the garage since 1911.

The business has gone through various names in that time, including Rose's Garage and John Clarke's Garage.

The garage in 1930 was run by the Rose family, who made and sold bicycles among other things

March and District Museum A black and white shot of the front of the garage in 1930. There are motorcycles on the forecourt with a petrol pump on the right. A woman is sitting side-saddle on a motorbike and some men are standing around. A Penny Farthing sits on top of the shop. — The garage in 1930 was run by the Rose family, who made and sold bicycles among other things

Bedford, who is now approaching 90, has a razor-sharp memory of his hometown and garage's past.

He said the site was first owned by the Rose family, who made and sold pedal bikes and dealt motorcycles.

"Mr Rose first had the Penny Farthing in 1906 but couldn't sell it, as people were constantly having mishaps and falling off while testing it," Bedford said.

Colin Bedford said the Penny Farthing was a unique piece of Fenland history

John Devine/BBC Colin Bedford, 89, has grey hair swept across his head, and a grey stubbly beard and moustache. He is wearing a blue coat with a brown shirt underneath. Behind him is a house with some cars parked on a gravel driveway. — Colin Bedford said the Penny Farthing was a unique piece of Fenland history

He said one day the owner got so fed up with the bike, which has a huge front wheel and a small rear one, that he put it on the roof "to keep it out of harm's way" - and there it stayed.

Christmas revellers, in their high spirits, managed to knock it off in 1972 and it was damaged again a few years later, he said.

The current version, which does not operate, was created in the mid-'70s by a local engineering firm to immortalise it in history, in a town known for its quirks - including its wonky Christmas tree and geese that roam the High Street.

The current bike was created by a March-based engineering firm and is firmly attached to the roof

Martyn Hopkins A close-up of the Penny Farthing, shot from the roof of the business. It is deep red in colour and it has a large front wheel and a small back one. It is a sunny day and there are rooftops in the background. — The current bike was created by a March-based engineering firm and is firmly attached to the roof

Hopkins said the garage he now runs holds many special memories, as his late mother also worked at the premises as a petrol pump attendant.

He said he hoped to see the bike riding high for many years to come.

"The Penny Farthing is a local landmark and everyone recognises it - even people out of town know exactly what you mean when you mention it," he said.