J. Hollingsworth Limited was founded in 1908. in Hollington, St Leonards. As a skilled vehicle body-builder and coach painter, the company prospered and, by 1914, had a contract with Ford Motor Company. In 1921 new showrooms were opened, in Havelock Road, Hastings with workshop sites in Braybrooke Road and Earl Street, Hastings. After the Second World War a paint shop was formed in Waterworks Road.
The Company became a well-established business with a good reputation with other traders, suppliers, banks and other employers. All members of staff were made to feel part of the ‘family’, with an interest in its future as well as social activities that included its own sports clubs. Employees often started their working life as apprentices with the Company and became skilled but remained there for the rest of their working lives. The well-known engineering skills of these employees meant that they were called upon throughout the area with such tings as helping to maintain the RNLI lifeboat and the Gas Works machinery, amongst many other installations and engines.
The company also contributed to the annual summer carnival. Many local traders purchased delivery vehicles of all sizes from Hollingsworth’s, each meticulously sign-written and included Companies from Bexhill and the rural area. Hollingsworth’s were also suppliers of Fordson tractors and agricultural equipment with its own dedicated workshops. For the British Gypsum mine at Mountfield, near Battle, Hollingsworth’s designed and built a special range of tractors suitable for use underground in confined spaces.
In 1973, Hollingsworth’s purchased the West Station Garage in Bexhill including its showrooms, workshops and forecourt but, in 1999, the site was sold to Birchwood Ford of Eastbourne.
Click on any image to enlarge.
HO-001 – Havelock Rd showroom Xmas 1950s
HO-002 – Havelock Rd showroom with vans outside
HO-003 – Showroom night time 1970s
HO-004 – Showroom Havelock Rd 1970s
The above all show the front of the Hastings premises in Havelock Road – two from the 1950s and two from the 1970s.
HO-005 – Terminus Road 11-1-1979
HO-006 – Terminus Road 13-1-1979
HO-007 – Braybooke Rd workshop
HO-008 – Workshops at Braybrooke Road, Hastings 1950s
HO-009 – Thirteen identical open-back trucks
HO-010 – Hollingsworth’s Glass workshop
HO-011 – Hollingsworth’s Workshop
HO-012 – Ambulance interior from rear Reg. no. BDY 647
HO-013 – George Gilbert van
HO-014 – Fryer & sons van
HO-015 – Beeching van
HO-016 – Beeney cattle lorry rear
HO-017 – Beeney cattle lorry
HO-018 – Binnington van
HO-019 – Bowles timber lorry CDY 38
HO-020 – Bridge House van
HO-021 – British Gypsum tractor article 1
HO-022 – Ford 8 Hospital fundraising 1950s
HO-023 – Ford Popular car
HO-024 – Ford Zephyr police car ADY999B 1960s
HO-025 – Fordson tractor Hastings Carnival with motorbike
HO-026 – Front damage Reg. No. ADY 739
HO-027 – Front repaired Reg. No. ADY 739
HO-028 – Gambrills van, Reg. No. CDY 70
HO-029 – Gifford Boyd van, reg. No. DDY 632
HO-030 – Gower van
HO-031 – Griffin lorry, Reg. No. DDY 65
HO-032 – Hastings Borough dustcart
HO-033 – Lindridge’s high vans
HO-034 – Hospital Management Community Truck Reg. No. EDY 64
HO-035 – Howard Swain van Wellington Mews
HO-036 – J. Smith’s van Reg. No. CDY 678
HO-037 – R. T. Jones’ lorry
HO-038 – Large Co-op van
HO-039 – Large McDougall’s lorry
HO-040 – Large saloon car
HO-041 – Large van interior from rear Reg. No. DDY 817
HO-042 – Lorry with 2 Fordson tractors
HO-043 – Lorry with 2 tractors & train in background
HO-044 – McDougall’s lorry
HO-045 – Ford Model T – Hastings Carnival seafront 1950s
HO-046 – Ford Model T + tractors – Seafront – Agricultural show 1950s
HO-047 – Tractor display Ashburnham
HO-048 – Shooting brake conversion in workshop
HO-049 – Ford Thames lorry nears completion
HO-050 – Construction of commercial bodywork
HO-051 – Tractor workshop
HO-052 – Tractor stand at Agriculural show
HO-053 – British Gypsum tractor Holco
HO-054 – Tractor & harrow in stadium
HO-055 – Tractor & plough in field
HO-056 – Fordson tractor repair and maintenance workshop
HO-057 – Hollingsworths line-up of Cortinas in the 1960s
HO-058 – Hollingsworths Fordson tractor show at Ashburnham
HO-059 – Hastings carnival car on lorry 1951
HO-060 – Mock-up in Borgeaud’s bakery window
HO-061 – Staff show, on pier 1950s
HO-062 – Three Ford Consuls in the 1960s
HO-063 – Braking display 1947
HO-064 – Football team 1
HO-065 – Football team 2
HO-066 – Football team 3
HO-067 – Football team 1950s
