THIS article identifies two businesses still existing in Bingley, one established in 1886 and the other in 1919.
It is unusual to have businesses still trading in the town where they were founded many years ago, in an era when other newer businesses have ceased to exist. Over many years they have served the people of Bingley, establishing notable customer loyalty.
* Luscombes:
Luscombes is synonymous with shopping on Main Street, Bingley, latterly as a gift shop but originally as a glass, earthenware and china dealers.
First Generation: George Harvey Luscombe started his business as a pot hawker in Bingley in 1866. He divided his business into two, one hawking goods from a horse and cart and the second as a shopkeeper selling earthenware, glass and china.
In 1881 he had a shop at 140 Main Street between Queen Street and Kings Court and had stables for his horse in Kings Court.
By 1891 he had moved his shop to 20 Chapel Lane and lived there with his wife Eliza and three sons.
Second Generation: After his death in 1902, Eliza, his second wife, ran the Chapel Lane shop with sons Fred and Ben working the hawking business from the cart. Fred Luscombe is shown in tax records as living in Kings Court until 1914.He died of war wounds in France in October 1917
Eliza eventually handed the business over to Ben. His 1915 marriage certificate shows him as a China Merchant with a shop at 154 Main Street. A newspaper advertisement in 1917 shows him selling “a grey horse/16 hands, a good worker.” This suggests that the family were possibly concentrating on the shop rather than the hawking business.
Between 1921 and 1927 Eliza and George, a Joiner and the eldest son, lived at Kings Court.. This location would become significant in future developments involving the Luscombe family.
On her death in 1931 Eliza Luscombe of Kings Court, Bingley. bequeathed monies to Ben a Hardware Dealer and George, a Joiner. In 1939 Ben is described as a Glass and China Retailer at 154 Main Street.
Third Generation: Ben and his wife Mary had two sons, one of whom, John Holden Luscombe (1917-1998) trained as a Joiner, eventually building up a successful business as a Joiner /Undertaker. Ben Luscombe died in 1961, leaving his estate to John Holden Luscombe, Joinery Contractor.
In the early 1970s John Holden was a visionary and key figure in transforming the area of backyards and stables known as Kings Court (where the family had property) into what is now the Queens Court shopping courtyard. In 2024 Luscombes fronts onto the Main Street and also forms part of Queens Court.
Luscombes is no longer run by family members, but in recognising and acknowledging the long history of the business in Bingley, the current owners decided to retain the name.
* Wilkinson and Whitley:
Wilkinson and Whitley’s garage on Lime Street, Bingley was opened in 1919, by John Richardson Wilkinson in partnership with James Shuttleworth Whitley. Four generations of the Wilkinson family have been involved in the business.
First and Second Generations: John R Wilkinson was born in Warcop, Westmorland, the son of a farmer.
In 1901 at age 16 he was serving his apprenticeship as a Fitter (Engine) in Penrith. On completing his apprenticeship, John moved to Bingley, getting married at Bingley Holy Trinity Church in 1911. His marriage certificate shows that he was a Motor Engineer who initially lived in Gilstead.
Electoral records show that from 1918 until 1928 he and his family lived at Hallbank Drive and then at 87 Park Road from 1929 until the 1960s.
Shipley Times and Express reported that in July 1921 he took part in an Ilkley Motor Cycle and Light Car Club Rally on his Rover 5/6 motorcycle and sidecar winning a trophy, gold medal and certificate as best amateur rider. He also competed in the Myrtle Park Motor Gymkhana in 1923.
By 1939 the business included John (Master Engineer) and sons William (Foreman/ Mechanic), Frank (Motor Mechanic) Fred (Apprentice Motor Mechanic) and John aka Jack (Motor Mechanic/ Electrical). James Whitley is shown as Garage Proprietor.
John Richardson Wilkinson died in 1942, his sons William, Jack and Fred remained with the business.
In 2024 two further generations of the Wilkinson family are still actively involved .
* Thanks to Robin Luscombe and John Wilkinson for providing background/photographs
* Copies of Alan’s book Bingley A Living History are available at Luscombes and Bingley Post Office.
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