#101

Ilford has various commercial buildings dating from the 1930s when the simple but suave Art Deco style was in its prime. Some of these are hiding in plain sight among shopping parades of differing architectural periods while others sit by themselves proudly looking upon the street. One such building is the former "Morris House" on the Seven Kings end of Ilford High Road. Through generations this was a car dealership for various manufacturers. It is now an electronics dealer for various brands. (*also caption should read Volkswagen!)
Sources:
www.modernism-in-metroland.co...
www.rgbdirect.co.uk/aboutUs.html
www.motortrader.com/carmaker-...
bestsellingcarsblog.com/2008/...

[@rajnirvan3336]

Wow memories. Just near Seven Kings Station

[@Mr-To-Do-List]

And almost opposite the ilford swimming pool.

[@rajnirvan3336]

@@Mr-To-Do-List Ah yes that too. That part of the area was very memorable for me. Once lived in Goodmayes and my late grandparents were Ilford residents from early 80s to late 90s. Seven Kings was where my grandparents lived from 1983 to 1997 great memories

[@awsanteina5152]

The site is now being dwarfed by high-rise buildings 😢

[@IlfordRetro]

@@awsanteina5152 and may well become a high rise plot itself one day

[@awsanteina5152]

@@Mr-To-Do-List the old swimming pool is now Isaac Newton Academy

[@shahzadayub7191]

Brings back memories. Both mom and her brother brought brand new 5 door (blue) Mk3 Fiestas from that site in the nineties. LX (L reg) for uncle and a (M reg) Sapphire for mom. I also remember the Mk5 (K reg) Escort hire car they gave my mom when her car was in that dealership for repair work. #memories

[@IlfordRetro]

You did a fair bit of business with them by look of it. I think the Sapphire was such a classic model, more elegant than say, a Granada in my opinion.

[@shahzadayub7191]

@@IlfordRetro My family certainly did! Fords were very much the fabric of Britain in those days, at least it felt that way for me as a young 'un. Mom sold her sapphire in 2006 after a £500 servicing bill from the same dealership in your vid a few years prior and uncle scrapped his fiesta a year after that as the fuel injection was playing up on a car that was then worth about £750, if that! Still both cars lasted beyond their specified design/service life to be fair!

[@IlfordRetro]

@@shahzadayub7191 Very good mileage and decent length of service by the sound of things. It's no wonder they've issued some of the most popular models in the UK over time. Good to hear your experience of them!

[@TrevorLewin]

I worked there in the early 70s when it was Stewart and Ardern.

[@IlfordRetro]

Thanks for finding the vid. Hopefully it was a good place to work for?

[@SensoryTerror]

I did work experience there in the 90s

[@IlfordRetro]

One of the better places to do work experience I would imagine? Better than being stuck behind a desk - unless you were actually stuck behind the desk at the dealership!

[@zaphodbeeblebrox6627]

Christ you know how to make someone feel old.😆 I remember this site selling MG's and other BL products. So by your time line that was before Ford took it over, so that would have been through the 1970's till early 80's!

[@IlfordRetro]

Sorry! 😄Yes you're right, that when it was selling models under British Leyland it was near the end of Steward & Ardern's time running it. Seems nearly a lifetime ago, I know.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

I've been there .... bought things, etc.

[@IlfordRetro]

Usually a good range of stock and decent prices too