Midland “Red” Depots and Garages in Tamworth
Tamworth (Two Gates) depot
Watling Street, Two Gates, Tamworth
- North Warwickshire Motor Omnibus and Traction Company Limited formed in October 1913 to take over operations of Mr J Thorburn in the Tamworth, Atherstone and Nuneaton area. Vehicles in Tamworth operated from a garage on Watling Street, Two Gates. Construction was of corrugated iron and wood, with sliding doors at the front.
- Site occupied by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services) from Friday 1st February 1918, when BMMO took over the operations of the North Warwickshire Motor Omnibus and Traction Company Limited. BMMO also acquired eight Tilling-Stevens buses with the business but only six were in working order, and also took control of Nuneaton (Burgage Walk) garage but this was initially unused and Nuneaton services were operated from the Two Gates site.
- Site closed from Friday 3rd August 1928, with operations moving to a new purpose built site, Tamworth (Aldergate) depot.
- Site rented to Mr Tom Lawrence Williams from c. late 1934 as part of a 14-year lease. Used for the production of 3-wheel motor vehicles with the first vehicles built, the Reliant 7cwt “girder-fork” van, being delivered to customers in June 1935.
- Reliant Engineering Company (Tamworth) Limited (trading as “Reliant Motor Company”) formed for the continued production of Reliant vehicles, based at the Two Gates site.
- Site sold to Reliant Motor Company in 1947.
- Site expanded to include buildings on both sides of Watling Street. Used for the production of their famous 3-wheel Reliant Robin from 1973.
- Site closed by Reliant in December 1998, and production moved to a new purpose-built factory at Burntwood, Cannock.
- Site demolished in 2000 and redevelpoed as housing estate.