Following her look at coach travel in Essex, in days of yore, this week Margaret Mills turner her attention to the beginnings of the motor car industry in Essex.

Surprisingly today’s feature is not connected with FORD, but back in 1892, a man called Frederick Bremer who lived in Walthamstow, built a petrol driven car in a shed in his back garden.

His claim to have driven the vehicle on public roads around Walthamstow in 1894 is unsubstantiated bearing in mind that had he actually done so, he would have broken the law as it was only in 1896 that propelled vehicles were finally allowed on public roads.

After his death in 1941 the car he built was gifted to the Vestry House Museum in Walthamstow, where it can still be seen today.

If you missed what Margaret told me, you can listen again here: –

Hope to see you again next week,
Scott