Tatton’s classic car connections

As Cheshire Auto Promotion’s 30th Classic Car Spectacular gears up to welcome thousands of visitors at Tatton Park over the weekend of June 4th and 5th, Edgar Milner, one of CAP’s organisers, revealed another family automobile connection with the Cheshire Estate with a photo from the family album. His father in law, Mr J F Moore, had connections with Maurice Egerton (1874 – 1958) having lived in Rostherne village and been a member of the church choir. He was already established in the local motor trade having started at Parkside garage in Knutsford.

In October 1946 Mr Moore invited Lord Egerton to attend a motor cavalcade in the centre of Manchester celebrating the end of World War Two and to bring with him his 1900 Benz 3.5-hp Vis a Vis car M1.

Maurice, 4th and last Baron Egerton of Tatton, was an innovator and a man of great inventive and technical skill. A pioneer aviator, photographer and filmmaker, he was an early motorist and prodigious traveller. In 1920 Maurice Egerton succeeded to the title as 4th Baron Egerton of Tatton inheriting the estate, which included the Benz. There are few records of the car’s next 30 to 40years, though there are movie pictures of Lord Egerton driving it around Tatton’s stables courtyard in the late1920s and he retained a fond attachment to his favourite vehicle. In 1958 the estate had passed to the National Trust and in 1961-62 the car was restored by the Rolls Royce apprentices at Crewe. In 1962 the newly refurbished Benz successfully took part in the London to Brighton run. Some thirty years later further work was done in preparation for the Centenary 1996 London –Brighton run. Unfortunately fuel line and carburettor problems forced the car to retire at Crawley. After further work the car successfully completed the 2004 London – Brighton run.

The right to use its M1 registration was sold by Bonhams in 2005 to generate funds to be held in a newly formed Tatton Park Charitable Trust used for future conservation, restoration and education work at Tatton Park.

Edgar Milner commented “It’s remarkable that 70 years on from this wonderful encounter with the Egertons the family have firmly established a similar classic car link with Tatton Park, their former home. I and my fellow show organisers are delighted to be celebrating 30 years of The Tatton Park Classic Car shows this year.”

The Tatton Park Classic Car Spectacular June 4th and 5th

The 30th anniversary event for one of Britain’s best and most popular classic car shows. Around 2,000 classic and performance cars are on display including nearly eighty of Britain’s top classic and performance car clubs including Jaguar, Lotus, Jensen, MG, Triumph, BMW and all the classics of yesteryear. Massive two-day Cheshire Autojumble with specialist and general trade stand area of around 200 stalls, along with the ever popular Car Mart. Also available, light entertainment with children’s rides, refreshments and bar. 9am – 4pm. Adults £9, children (10 – 15 years) £6, Under 10’s FREE. Car entry £6For more information visit www.cheshireautopromotions.co.uk or call 01565 723863.

Also taking place this year are:-

The Tatton Park Stars and Stripes American Car Show: July 2nd and 3rd

The Tatton Park Passion for Power Classic Motor Show: August 20th and 21st