This (damaged) postcard was published by H Camburn of Tunbridge Wells.
This building was erected in 1892 by Rock, Hawkins & Thorpe as a carriage factory. The company had been founded as Rock and Son in 1822, and had moved to Tunbridge Wells from Hastings. Around the turn of the century the firm moved into Motor Car Building.
By the time of the fire, Rock, Thorpe & Chatfield were a firm of Coachbuilders and Motor Engineers. They were clearly able to recover from this catastrophic fire as they exhibited at the 1920 Motor Show.
Latterly known as Rock, Thorpe and Watson Ltd, the company traded until 1946, when it was taken over by Caffyns Ltd.
Scanned antique postcard
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