*Historical* The original Wardill Motorcycle began life at this garage workshop that once stood in Pound Street, on the corner of Carshalton Park Road. Pictured is the latest motorbike model, made in Wales.
Great grandson of the motorcycle creator, Mark Wardill, who lives in south Wales Valleys is resurrecting the company.
He’s been shortlisted for a start-up award, creating the brand new Wardill 4 (pictured above).
The family business began in Carshalton in 1903 mainly selling bicycles – it was run by Henry Wardill Snr who won a contract from Minerva Motors and began maintaining cars, motorcycles and bicycles.
At the workshop Henry’s sons Henry “Ernest” Jnr and Percy Wardill designed and built a brand new motorcycle, which led the brothers to starting the Wardill Motorcycle Company back in 1927.
They produced a patented two stroke supercharged Engine (shown below).
Ready to hit the big time with American investors, a minor crash during trials gave them cold feet.
After the Wardill company left Carshalton the main workshops were replaced by a petrol station, most recently Texaco and now a block of flats, pictured.
Mark has been working on the latest Wardill bike in Wales since 2016, and recently visited the site in Carshalton to see where it all started.
So if you want to taste a bit of Carshalton history in real-life – why not get yourself a made to-order motorbike for just £11,500 with some real local heritage under the seat.
Although vintage in its look and styling, there is a lot of modern technology going on in the bikes says Mr Wardill.
🗝 The workshop and storefront photos are most likely 1920s. You can just make out Wardills in the photo with the newsagent on the corner.
Copyright: Bike and historic photos with kind permission of Mark Wardill. Research and current pictures Secret Carshalton. Old pics Sutton Archives and heritage services.
Check out this other Carshalton motoring marvel:
The Carshalton Water Mill that Produced Engine for World’s first Kit-Car in 1900
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