Elson’s works c.1895.
Image source: Epsom Herald of 18 October 1981.

The records show that there was a workshop here, although in 1911 the Elsons lived at Standens, Bridge Road. Mr Elson Senior (James) was now retired and the business was being run by his 22 year old son, Walter Frederick. In 1901 they were living at Edenhurst, 5 Church Street.

James Elson (born 1845 Reigate) was a wheelwright by trade, as was his father, Mark, who was born in Epsom but moved to Betchworth. By 1871 James had come to Epsom, employing two men and a boy. The Elsons had several children, but only two boys – Arthur James (born 1877 Epsom ) and Walter Frederick (born 1888 Epsom); Arthur became a surveyor and moved away.

Walter (known as Frederick or Fred) still had and actively ran the business in Church Street until 1953, when he sold it to a Mr Edward C Micklewright; he then moved with his wife to near Romsey, Hampshire. I imagine that by that stage, given the demise of horse-drawn transport and the rise of the motor vehicle, the business had become very different from what it had been when he started. I understand that in the early days Mr Elson built bodies for well-known racing cars, including Singers and Lagondas. In 1920 in Horsham district he had married Hazel Audrey W Rich (1895 Ifield, Sussex-1981 Romsey district) and there was one daughter, born in 1923. Walter died in 1979 in Romsey district.

During the Second World War Arthur, then living in Penge, was an ARP Controller and was killed as a result of enemy action on Anerley Road on 1 May 1941.