Skip to main content

Leystones Garage

Meryl Peart, daughter of owner, Cyril Peart, operating one of the pumps

These pictures of Leystones Garage date from the 1960s. Cyril Peart took over the garage in 1964 and ran it until 1986. The photographs were kindly lent to us by Mrs Ruth Peart.

Above is Meryl Peart, daughter of owner, Cyril Peart, operating one of the pumps. The next two pictures show general shots of the filling station showing attendant-operated National Benzole petrol pumps.

The filling station showing attendant-operated National Benzole petrol pumps

The filling station showing attendant-operated National Benzole petrol pumps

view of the workshop behind the garage forecourt

Above is a view of the workshop behind the garage forecourt. The aerial picture below shows the land to the east of the garage before "Sundene" was built and the nice neat orchard on West side, owned by the Harman family.

Land to the east of the garage before "Sundene" was built and the nice neat orchard on West side, owned by the Harman family

Below, Meryl Peart was the winner of the 'Miss Mercury' contest in 1967. 'Mercury' was the in-house magazine of the National Benzole. The contest was entered by salesgirls from throughout the country. After the judging, at the Hyde Park Hotel, London she won the prize of £50. Her day in London also included dining at the 'Talk of the Town' nightclub where Val Doonican was the star of the show.

 Meryl Peart was the winner of the 'Miss Mercury' contest in 1967


Here are some earlier pictures of the garage. Ernest William Sturt (ca 1886-1963) and his wife Clara Eliza (nee Kemp) (1885-1981) came originally from Surrey and took over Leystones Garage in the late 1930s. They operated the garage until after Second World War and the site also had a Tea Room.

The pictures were supplied by Mrs Pam Corbett who is Ernest and Clara Sturt's granddaughter.

A view of the forecourt from the upstairs of the adjacent house
A view of the forecourt from the upstairs of the adjacent house. It shows how busy the place was, with cars parked on the opposite side of the road - presumably customers at the Tea Room.
This shows cars on the forecourt, mostly with 1930s registration plates.
This shows cars on the forecourt, mostly with 1930s registration plates.
This shows an attendant operating one of the pumps and the display for Pratts Motor Oil behind.
This shows a visitor posing with one of the pumps and the display for Pratts Motor Oil behind.
This picture has Mrs Clara Sturt on the left.
This picture has Mrs Clara Sturt on the left.
This is a picture of the pumps - selling Esso at that time - and the Tea Room behind.
This is a picture of the pumps - selling Esso at that time - and the Tea Room behind.
This is earlier than the other photos Pam Corbett gave us. The garage looks less developed. There is no tea room and the land to the right side looks like orcharding.
This is earlier than the other photos Pam Corbett gave us. The garage looks less developed. There is no tea room and the land to the right side looks like orcharding.

Between the Sturts and the Pearts, the garage was run by Mrs Dean - we are still trying to trace her family to get more photos.