PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The Barton Building is the large building at the northern end of Mutley Plain, opposite the Hyde Park Public House. It is currently (2006) occupied by estate agents and a cycle shop. It was the showroom for Messrs Barton Motor Company Ltd and was officially opened for them by Sir William Morris, managing director of Morris Motors Ltd of Cowley, Oxfordshire. The building was designed by Mr H J Hammick and constructed by Messrs Wakeham Brothers. After the ceremony, he toured the building and then adjourned to the Royal Hotel, where he was entertained to lunch. In his speech, he revealed that the £200,000 profit that he had received from the Company bearing his name would be donated to charitable causes. At the same time, Mr M B Linz, director and general manager of Messrs Barton's announced the formation of a profit-sharing scheme for every member of the staff. Mr F G Barton was a prominent businessman in Oxford and had been with Sir William at Cowley when he started WRM Motors Ltd. Sir William spoke very highly of Mr Barton and was sorry to lose him. Barton' first premises in Plymouth had been on the corner of Mutley Plain and Ford Park Road. Sir William was presented with a silver replica of Drake's ship, the Golden Hind, and Mrs Barton was presented with a bouquet of roses and carnations by the youngest employee of the Company, a Miss Pittwood.
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