Erection date: 1960
This is the birthplace of the Bentley motor car. Number one was produced here in the year 1919.
This black and white image was taken by Alan Zafer and was published in the Ham & High. Examining Chagford Street today we struggled to find this arrangement of door and windows anywhere near the site of the 2nd plaque. And none of the brickwork looks new. We were puzzled but then Mr Little wrote to us about a third plaque and mentioned that this first plaque (in the B&W photo) was actually at no 47, and suddenly we could see the window and door that are in the photo.
Site: Bentley Motor Car (2 memorials)
W1, Chagford Street, 48
When Bentleys were here the street was called New Street Mews, New Street being what is now Melcombe Street.
In July 2022 the Ham & High recounted the story of these plaques, as told to them by Alan Zafer who used to have an office in the building.
The first plaque (also blue) was erected at this site (date unknown but c.1960) and Zafer photographed Walter Owen Bentley (1888–1971) standing in front of it. This plaque was stolen in 1982. Zafer says "With the help of the Bentley Car Club I had a new one put up and we put it higher up so that nobody would steal it." But 27 June 2022 Zafer noticed that the second plaque had also been stolen. Actually, as we can see in the photo that we took, the second plaque was positioned within easy reach of any thieves.
November 2023: Mr Little confirmed that 21 September 2023 a third plaque was unveiled, on number 47, with a photo at Bentley Drivers Club. We need to get along there and take our own photo before that too goes missing.
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