The Donald Healey Motor Company - Part 2: The Cape Works

The Donald Healey Motor Company began its journey in Warwick, based in the Cape area of the town. Senior archivist, Rob Eyre, takes us through the early days of innovation and imagination at the company, when postwar shortages saw them building cars from parts of cement mixers and aircraft as well as a Formula 1 Ferrari.
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[@anothervoice9578]

I worked at Benford (in Warwick) from 1993 to 2003, when production was moved to Coventry, and also continued in Coventry for a few more years.
I knew nothing about Healey working out of the Cape site until recent years, and have an interest in the history.
It is my understanding that Healey built cars (the Warwick Healeys) out of what we called "E&D" - an old fashioned hangar type workshop, right next to the canal bridge on Cape Road. I have spoken to some of the old boys who have said this is also their understanding.
One of the key people in the Benford business was a certain Stella Brummel (Personal Assistant. to the M.D.), who later won the award for business woman of the year, after eventually becoming Managing Director.
Stella lived with her husband (who was also a director involved in manufacturing/automotive works elsewhere), at "The Stables" at Bridge End, in Warwick, and I have heard a first hand witness tell me that Stella was known for her rather fashionable dress sense, and her nice little sports car, I'm guessing a Healey.
My understanding is that the hangar was an RAF installation before Benford took over the site.
Benford was started by Mr Bennett and Mr Langford, who made a motorized wheelbarrow, which morphed into a dumper truck, eventually.
I suspect some dealing or espionage went on, because Thwaites sprang up just 3 miles away, and the two firms dominated the site-dumper market for the next 60 years.
I'm not sure when the Webb family took over at Benford, but mid-late 1930's is my understanding. Stella was there early..late 30's, until the 80's.
Yes, Donald Healey either bought or rented an upper floor apartment at Kenilworth Road, L/Spa.
Yes, I remember the Healey Showroom at Coten End, which was a Cinema, and eventually a taxi business, and now redeveloped completely.
The whole Benford site is now re-developed as flats etc, and the Benford business has been bought by a French firm named Mecalac, and still struggles on out of Coventry. A handful of my old workmates are still there.
It's odd, and disappointing that after working at Benford (Terex) for nearly 20 years, I knew nothing of the Healey history and connection, until after I left.
I was recently touring in my motorhome in Cornwall, and was going to visit the Healey family cider business, where they have a small Healey exhibition on display, but it was not open at that time.

[@heritageandculturewarwicks7153]

Hi, would it be ok with you if we posted your comment onto our community history site 'Our Warwickshire? It would sit alongside the video and article. www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk Let me know, thanks.

[@archiveassistant4520]

Thankyou for your comments, particularly interested in the information that there was an RAF hangar already on the Benford site

[@anothervoice9578]

@@heritageandculturewarwicks7153 Of course. No problem.