The Safari Factories in Stroud

[Brian M]

I have been doing a bit of research into the Safari factories, and thanks to the photos provided by Michael have identified the Bowbridge site, although none of the buildings seem to have survived.

But the Cainscross site is a bigger mystery. There is no road name on the caravan plates or publicity material.

Chris Rugman lives in Stroud and recently raised the subject on Facebook - his questions and my replies:

Hi Brian, trying to locate the original factory, I'm aware it's long since been demolished, but would love to go to it's original location, do you have any original pictures or an original address ? Many thanks


Chris
I have been trying to research this question for some time. All I have found is Cainscross Nr Stroud, but not an exact address. The Pearman Briggs site in Cheltenham Road was opened in 1950, but was a retail outlet only. The pictures on the Picasa albums are all the new factory at London Road Bowbridge, behind and alongside The British Oak. The chimney for Eagle Mill can be seen in the background of some of the pictures. I have not visited either location, but have examined Google Earth in some detail. If you can have a look at either location I would be interested, although in May I am coming down that way with my Safari to have a look around.


Thankyou Brian, I have been scrutinising the pictures, and press story's, it was for sure behind the royal oak pub. It appears now the old factory/mill is a small housing estate. Past the pub on the right appears to be the only feasible entrance that Safari could have used to bring caravans in and out.
A friend assures me bringing caravans and trucks in and out would have been interesting due to gradients and width? I have messaged the landlord of the royal oak pub incase of any old pictures or any regulars that may remember the factory. I would say due to laxed working ethics back then i think we could safely assume the workers enjoyed the odd lunch time pint in the royal oak.
I'm hoping to have a look at the London road area and royal oak this evening, according to the press a block of flats is standing where the main manufacturing part of safari stood.



Chris If you look at the photo of the row of Safaris, this is in what is now Eagle Mill Close, alongside the river/canal?? There is also a picture of a group of workers sitting on a wall that is still there at the entrance to Eagle Mill Close. I suspect this was the way in and out for the supplies and caravans. I think you are right about the block of flats along the London Road.



Can anyone else help?

[michael1]

Hi Safaris came out the opening in Bowbridge were the houseing site is now they use the same entrance as we did when i work there the entrance on london road next to the british oak was the old entrance to the old mill when it was a wool mill and before that it was a brewery were was safari in cainscross i dont know but i remeber the work mates that work there said it was stables pearman & briggs started in gloucester were the retail part was and is still selling caravans today hopes that helps if any one comes to stroud give me a ring and we could meet up and i will show you around

[franni]

May 1, 2015 13:40:36 GMT michael1 said:

Hi Safaris came out the opening in Bowbridge were the houseing site is now they use the same entrance as we did when i work there the entrance on london road next to the british oak was the old entrance to the old mill when it was a wool mill and before that it was a brewery were was safari in cainscross i dont know but i remeber the work mates that work there said it was stables pearman & briggs started in gloucester were the retail part was and is still selling caravans today hopes that helps if any one comes to stroud give me a ring and we could meet up and i will show you around

it is a fair way from south australia, but if i get to the uUK in the next year or two i'll definitely give you a call. we are still working on our safari, slowly, persistently. i enjoy doing the internal woodwork even more now that i know you did the finishing originally. makes it more personal somehow. wish her walls [what's left of them] could talk. she's had a long journey and a longish life. should be right for a good number of years when we have finished the restoration.

franni 

[mintaka22]

Hi everyone,

The Cainscross factory location was in part of the area now occupied by the new Co-Op. It was approached through a stone archway, which was demolished by the early 90's. A remnant of this can be seen still on the right hand side, with new brickwork, as seen from London Road. The arch stood over a short driveway, which is now gated, and provides foot access to the Co-Op from London Road. This is located approximately opposite to a cycle shop, Cytec.

The entrance to Safari at Bowbridge lane was indeed the same as the entrance to the current housing estate, built in 1996. I have some pictures of the demolition with a link from one of my earlier posts. I do have one showing the entrance gates themselves, which I can look for. Just inside the gates to the right were the repair shop and carpet store, with the old main factory straight ahead, and the offices in newer buildings on the right, just after the carpet store.

The site was located at the lowest point alongside the river and canal, so there was a short but quite steep climb up to London Road.

Exactly opposite Safari's entrance was Orchard & Peer builders, a very long established local company whose former stone buildings became a housing conversion when the firm closed. They built the 202ft chimney which once stood at Stonehouse Brick & Tile Co, quite an achievement for a small building firm. One of Safari's metallers, Ken, went to a job there at the time of Safari's approaching closure, and very sadly died from a heart condition aged only 39 shortly after.

There was also a factory in Nailsworth, which I never saw in person, where Cosalt's Welton caravans were made, such as the GTX 350, 400 and 500 'Miravista'. It had a poor reputation for quality, and at Bowbridge, vans came to us on a quite regular basis for leak repairs because of careless use of staple guns in the metalling stage, or issues with sealing strips or D mouldings.

I hope this is helpful, but please do ask if you would like any further information.