Garage, Upper Largo

2/9/2016

The above images show the main street in Upper Largo, perhaps c1940, with the motor garage prominent on the left hand side. Built around 1843 as Upper Largo Free Church, the building was converted into a bus garage in 1933 by David Ramage. The bus garage evolved into a car garage and the advert below from 1955 shows it still going strong 20 years later.

Around 1960, the garage was taken over by Jimmy Purves and in 1965 a series of alterations were made. The work included demolition of the neighbouring dwelling house that adjoined the main road (shown to the right of the garage in the top images); a new tarmac area and boundary wall, new fascias, removal of existing shop front; alterations to various windows and doors; the re-siting of the petrol pumps away from the road-side; and new tanks, pipes and access for tankers. The images below are from plans drawn up at that time.

5 Comments

Elspeth Cook

25/10/2017 10:16:42 am

These look like drawings prepared by James Cook, Scott & Cook architects. He had just started up in private practice in the mid 60s and the commission from Jimmy Purves would have been one of his first jobs. He also designed the new post office for Peter Saunders at about the same time. The Cooks lived at 37 Main Street Upper Largo, having purchased the house from the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1958/59. At that time the ground floor was still laid out as a bank and bank managers house. It had originally been the National Bank of Scotland.

Simon Dedman

3/8/2022 04:27:31 am

Hi Elspeth.
I wonder if the J. Cook you refer to is the same Mr J. Cook that i am trying to trace. The reason is that I have recently purchased a 500cc racing car which i am informed was sold to a Mr Smith by Mr J.Cook of Upper Largo in November 1988. Mr Smith recalls that Mr J. Cook owned the car for a long time and i am trying to establish the cars history prior to his ownership. Mr Smith also recalls that the race car was parked next to a beautiful Alfa Romeo in Mr J. Cook’s garage.
Any help that you could offer in tracing the history of this little piece of motor racing history would be very much appreciated.
Kindest regards
Simon Dedman.

Elspeth Cook

4/8/2022 09:38:14 am

Yes, Jim Cook, now passed away, sold a single seater racing car with a motor bike engine, a Keeft. Not sure if that's how you spell it. I don't have any records of where the car came from I'm afraid. I'm not even sure when it was bought. But I remember when I was a child having to push start it with a giant pram handle. My mum, sister and me would run down the side of the house (with my dad sitting in it) and hope it started before the drive joined the road. Otherwise we were pushing it back up and doing it all again. My sister might remember more so will ask her and get back to you.

Simon Dedman

4/8/2022 02:06:01 pm

Hi Elspeth.
Great news that I am on the right track, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Hopefully. Your sister will have some other memories of the car that she would be happy to share, even the smallest detail will help, not even sure what colour it was when your father had it and I currently rebuilding it with the intention of racing it next year. At the moment I race a Cooper with the 500 association.
Hopefully the very helpful Dora will share my email with you which will make communicating a little easier.
Kindest regards
Simon

Simon Dedman

25/8/2022 02:47:59 am

Hi again Elspeth.
I hope all is good with you.
I wonder whether you have had an opportunity to speak with your sister? Any additional information about the car really would be most useful.
Kind regards
Simon

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Garage, Upper Largo

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