Barton's Garage, Colin Campbell Court, Plymouth

Steve, down in Devon, has been out with his camera again and took these 2 photos of another art-deco garage building in Plymouth ....

"This is another branch of Bartons (see the other Bartons Garage here) about two miles away from the previous one in Plymouth City Centre's Colin Campbell Court. Bartons seem to have been lucky when most of Plymouth was flattened in the Blitz (and most of what survived went on to be flattened by the City Council!) and their two showrooms survived intact. This one is now a branch of Mothercare."

In 2006 I heard that this stylish building may be demolished, to make way for another bland & soul-less modern development. In 2007 I heard from Debbie, who's father was General Manager at Barton's in the 50s and 60s, more info further down.

Bartons Plymouth garage

Bartons Plymouth garage pic 2

Update 2006.

Teresa got in touch, advising that there is a plan to demolish this fine old building ...

"Hi, I came across you web site when I was doing some research on Barton House based in Colin Campbell Court,Plymouth, now the Mothercare building.

The reason why I'm doing research is that there is a good chance that Plymouth City Council may be knocking down Barton House to make way for new developments.

The building itself, as you can see from the photos on your web site, is extremely beautiful and should not be demolished.

If the council do decide to demolish Barton House, it will be a very sad thing to do as history such as that can never be replaced. I am trying to get together as much research and support as possible,in order to put a case together to try and stop Barton House from being pulled down. Which is why I have emailed you, if you could help in any way with research, contacts or support it would help a great deal, as I really do not want to see Barton House pulled down."

20 June 2006
"... So far I've only come up with a small amount of research as there really don't seem to be much out there on Barton House. What I have learnt is that there use to be a school on the grounds before it was built in 1937/8, all the surrounding buildings got bombed around it but this one by pure luck stayed standing and only got off with very minor damage if any.

An attempt to have it listed was made many years ago (approx 14 years) with English Heritage, but at the time they said it did not make the criteria, even though it still has a very beautiful art deco stairway with guilt paint work and mouldings etc some where in the building, and is still there. I am in the process of trying to get permission from Mothercare head office to view and hopefully take some photos of it. Yesterday someone at the local records office told me that he remembers driving his car in the building and up and around a spiral ramp inside."

30 June 2006
"... Quick update, I've had a good look around Barton House today, nothing from 1938 has survived inside and I could not find the art deco staircase that the manageress mentioned before, but I have been told by the security guard that he has been asking around, and he was told by other people that there was a spiral ramp going up inside the building, but unfortunately there was nothing of it that can be seen today. The building is in a very bad way, especially the top two floors, which I was not allowed to see only told about.

The building is on the 'at risk' register with English Heritage and has been for some time (years).

Here are some pictures that I took today; the ramp ran up on the inside on the left hand side (looking at it)."

Bartons Plymouth garage

Bartons Plymouth garage lefthand side

Update 2007.

Debbie dropped me a line, with this extra information about Barton's garage at Mutley Plain ...

"The building shown at Colin Campbell Square was the garage owned by Mike Turner, the Austin distributor. The building on Mutley Plain was correctly identified as the Barton Building, opened by Lord Nuffield. My father was General Manager in the 1950s and 60's. He was the son of Frank George Barton who had the Morris franchise for Devon and most of Cornwall. My father, Dick Barton, is 88 3/4 years old and currently living in Northampton. He knows a lot about the motor business in Devon and Cornwall and has a stack of old photos including one of the first Barton building, which incidentally, was also on Mutley Plain ... there was an article in the February 2007 issue of Classic and Sports Car about the Barton Motor Company."

More old garage photos here!

www.oldclassiccar.co.uk -devoted to fans of classic cars everywhere!

Custom Search

Old Classic Car (C) R. Jones 2023. Content not to be reproduced elsewhere.

Website by ableweb.