Fully Operational Showroom: Sweet Briar Industrial estate, Norwich, NR3 2BS
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The word ‘garage’ comes from the French verb ‘garer’ – ‘to shelter’ and entered the English language right at the start of the 20th Century. Not everybody approved. The architect Charles Harrison Townsend, writing in 1908, noted that the French term ‘garage’ was being used for the new car storage buildings that were popping up everywhere. He disapproved and suggested “…the more desirable English equivalent of ‘Motor House’.”
The First Residential Garages
As you can see from our company name, ‘Motor House’ didn’t catch on and the nation has been happily parking their cars in garages for over 100 years. The first residential garages in the homes of the wealthy tended to be converted outbuildings. As the habit of driving spread to the upper middle classes, a desire for cheap garages led to the emergence of a thriving business right here in Norwich.
Prefabricated Units
The Norwich manufacturing company, Boulton and Paul, are perhaps best remembered for their contribution to the war effort building planes. However, before they became the country’s number one producer of Sopwith Camels during the First World War, they made their money supplying prefabricated garages. The prefabs were cheap and could be erected in hours – the technology developed to house cars was used in the 1940s to house thousands of families made homeless by the war and slum clearances.
Early Doors
The first garage doors were side-hinged double barn doors that opened outwards. The up-and-over door was the first innovation – a ‘float over door’ is advertised in an American catalogue as early as 1902. Sectional doors and roller doors and innovations such as spring-loading to assist opening all came along soon after. A properly maintained door should last a long time (we’ve seen some ancient ones!)
Modern Times
These days, garages are common on larger premises and a great feature if you wish to sell your house. The earliest garages tended to be owned by motor enthusiasts – some of whom would have an inspection pit in the floor of their garage and pullies installed in the ceiling for lifting out heavy engine components. Now, residential garages are more for storage than tinkering.
If you love your garage – you should treat yourself to a new automated door. Call into our showroom on the Sweet Briar industrial estate and see some of our automated doors in action. If you already know what you are after, call our sales team on 01603 787069.
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