About Rothbury Motor Garage, Northumberland

Lying at the east end of the village, the garage was built by John Lee as a modern showroom and workshop. He started life as a plumber but being interested in cycling he opened a cycle shop at the turn of the century. He built the first motor cycle in Rothbury and opened a garage at Townfoot in 1904. His chief mechanic was Mr CF Wright who later branched out on his own as a motor bus operator.

John Lee went on to develop several lines of business including funeral cars, taxis, cattle wagons and road haulage. From his profits during the first world war when he transported timber from Harbottle Forest he invested in the modern garage at Townsfoot and a substantial fleet of vehicles. He became the Northumberland & Durham agent for Lancia vehicles and also owned a franchise for Leyland good vehicles.

In 1921 he ran buses from Rothbury to Newcastle on Tuesdays & Fridays and in 1936 he expanded, running more frequent services to Newcastle, Longframlington and Morpeth in opposition to his old employee CF Wright. Further routes were added with market day services to Harbottle, Alwinton and Netherton.

In 1928 the Newcastle to Rothbury service was acquired by the United Bus Company together with that of CF Wright. Following the takeover he continued to operate the garage, road haulage service and private coach hire service.

The garage at Townfoot was credited with being a most efficient & modern building for its time. The original interior of the workshop now forms the basis of the garage interior at the Beamish Museum in County Durham.

J Lee sold his last bus to LC Wright, the son of CF Wright and by 1953 LC Wright had acquired sufficient capital to purchase the Townfoot garage from the Lee family. It changed its name to Rothbury Motors when it was purchased by Andrew Mackie and for many years was the home of Andrew's fleet of coaches. In 2001 Rothbury Motors closed down, the petrol service discontinued and the building was sold.

The garage has now been refurbished and opened for business for the specialist storage and renovation of Classic cars and it noteworthy that the old Rothbury Fire Engine, originally presented to the village, by George Farquar in 1788 has now returned to the village and is currently housed here.

The garage is built solidly of stone and presents a single wide gable to the street in which a first floor window bears above it the word 'GARAGE'. At street level there is a double fronted shop and to one side double doors leading to the garage.