Spot Garage
photo courtesy Mark Danson - date unknown
Eventually covering 75 - 77 Crabble Hill
1914 Pikes - no garages are listed, this area is private residences.
15 March 1918 (DE) - the sale of 76-77 Crabble Hill
1922 (DE) - Widening of Crabble Hill
4 July 1924 (DE) - Advert - Opening of Spot Garage, in 1924 P Swain was Mechanic Foreman at the Metropole Garage who started the Spot Garage
12 September 1924 (DE) - The Surveyor reported that Mr Swain, of Spot Garage, London Road had Applied for a licence to store petroleum; and he recommended that permission be granted - This was agreed to.
27 February 1925 (DE) - advert
27 November 1925 - New Telephone Subscribers includes PH Swain, The Spot Garage, Dover 474.
10 December 1926 (DE) - Permission for Mr T H Swain (yes it does show T) to install a 230 gallon tank at the Spot Garage, Crabble Hill, was deferred for the Surveyor to see the owner in connection with the position of the swing arm.
Councillor Boyton pointed out that if they allowed cars to stand there they would be holding up the traffic.
The Mayor said that the road was pretty wide there.
Councillor Boyton said that the County Council were taking the matter up and refusing these pumps on main roads.
Councillor Kennet said that he did not think they had power to stop anyone filling up from a garage by means of cans, and if people did that it would be worse than using a pump.
The Town Clerk; You may have to pay more money for cans. Everyone goes to a pump.
Councillor Dawes said that often a tram had to wait while a vehicle moved at this point.
24 December 1926 (DE) - With regards to the application for Mr Swain of the Spot Garage, Crabble Hill, to install a 230 gallon tank, which had been deferred for the Surveyor to see Mr Swain with the regards the liability of traffic being blocked by vehicles filling up outside his premises, Mr Swain wished to point out that it had become necessary for him to have a bulk supply of petrol because the supply of two gallon tins was to be discontinued. It appears that the obstruction to traffic which has been complained of, arose from vehicles standing outside the "Gate" Inn, where the tramlines were nearer the curb than they were outside his premises. It would be possible for vehicles to draw in on the crossing while they were filling up, although he did not think this would receive official sanction. The vehicle conveying the petrol to fill the tanks would be run into the garage for the purpose. He submitted the matter for further consideration.
Alderman Russell moved that permission be granted. Councillor Wood seconded, and the motion was passed.
1927 Pikes - the "Spot" Garage, motor & electrical engineer, P.H. Swain. Proprietor. Tele 474
24 February 1928 (DE) - Advert showing Spot Garage as the new Ford Authorised Dealer for Dover.
1 June 1928 (DE) - Calcium - The application by Mr P.H. Swain, of the Spot Garage, Crabble Hill, for a licence to store 1cwt. of carbide of calcium was granted.
Spot garage search page 7..... so far
1935-6 Pikes - The Spot Garage, P.H Swain, (A.Inst. of Patentees), authorised Ford Agent, AA & RAC Official repairer. Tel 520
1938-9 Pikes - The Spot Garage, P.H Swain, AA & RAC official repairer. Tel 474
Photo - unsure of date.
1949 Pikes - The Spot Garage, P.H Swain, AA & RAC official repairer. Tel 520
The story of the creation of a 1950 hand built Hillman Minx based ‘Sport Special’.
1956 kellys - Percy H Swain, motor engineers, 75 Crabble Hill.
1959 kellys - Percy H Swain, motor engineer, 75 Crabble Hill.
1965 kellys - Spot Garage. 75/77 Crabble Hill.
1967 kellys - Spot Garage, motor engineers. 75/77 Crabble Hill.
1969 trade directory - Spot Garage. 75/77 Crabble Hill.
1972 (BT) - Spot Garage. Dover 2478
1972 Photo JE Gilham
1973
1993 - Spot garage (WC & BC Murray & C Bevan) tel 202478
NB they were also trading from Capel Service Station, New Dover Rd, Capel-le-Ferne, Folkestone
2002 - MAS Garage
Photo 2014