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Sharing our memories of Heald Green
Last Updated 4th May 2025
Quick’s Garage, Wilmslow Road
By Helen Morgan
First Published 27/04/2025
Last Updated 27/04/2025
Nearly 50 years in our village. 1939-1986
Many residents can remember the garage being on Wilmslow Road before the Southgate centre was built. However, many may not have realised that it was there from 1939 as H&J Quick. Way back in 1912 Harry and Jim Quick formed a partnership and they sold their first car in 1912. In 1914 they were appointed Ford sub dealers and in 1919 Ford main dealers. They became a private limited company and moved to 660 Chester Road. Expansion of the business quickly followed with dealerships in Bury and Altrincham.
A car for £45!!
Fig. 1 Quicks Old Trafford
Manchester Evening News 21.1.1937
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In 1938, Harry and Jim began negotiations for a dealership in Cheadle and the Wilmslow Road site was chosen. They bought a woodworking business and two adjoining houses. They must have stood between the cottage café/shop/cottage and two larger semi-detached houses that were also demolished for the Southgate Centre.
Number 321 Wilmslow Road was on the 1921 census but not on the 1939 register so that may well have been one of the houses. I could not trace a woodworking business. Harry and Jim began to convert the premises and their latest garage was opened in 1939.
Fig. 2 From the Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 21.5.1986
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Not a fantastic photo but this shows the original buildings.
Fig. 3 Quicks 1940s
© Quick's archives
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Over the years between 1939 and 1946, Quicks did their bit for the war effort by manufacturing Wellington bomber parts at Altrincham, and at Old Trafford they manufactured ammunition boxes and reconditioned service vehicles. In 1946 H & J Quick Ltd. became a public company. By 1953 their turnover exceeded £1million. The 1950s brought even more expansion with new dealerships in Chester, Timperley and Bretton. In 1959 Wilmslow Road had an upgrade.
Fig. 4 From the Nantwich Chronicle 27.6.1953
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A garage not just for cars but Tractors too!
The expansion continued at pace in the 1960s with new branches opening in Ashton, Ellesmere Port and Vicars Cross.
In 1965 H & J Quick Group of companies was formed. In 1965 Quickspray opened.
Not just cars at Cheadle but also dairy equipment!
Fig. 5 From the Crewe Chronicle 21.1.1961
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Fig. 6 From the Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 14.7.1967
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Fig. 7 From the Manchester Evening News 1.9.1969
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In 1970 Newry Park opened.
In 1971 Altrincham and Cheadle garages were appointed Main Dealers.
Fig. 8 Quicks advert for Hertz
Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 27.8.1971
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The address being used is 321 Wilmslow Road.
By June 1971 the Cottage café in 315 and 317 Wilmslow Road had been vacated by the Bunting family and they had sold up to Quicks. This left Mrs Moss, a very elderly lady, in 319 refusing to budge. There are differing memories of what happened next. Either the Bunting’s cottages were demolished leaving just 319, or they were all demolished after Mrs Moss died in 1972.
Expansion of the Quick’s brand continued in the 1970s as they became truck specialists at the dealership in Trafford Park and an ICL computer had been installed at Old Trafford! Pre tax profits exceeded £500,000 and there were new dealerships in Chester and Hyde.
Fig. 9 Quicks advert
Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 25.1.1973
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A continental quilt with every purchase!
Fig. 10 Quicks advert
Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 26.2.1976
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Cars are no longer £45!!
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In November 1980 work began at Cheadle for a huge upgrade. The existing forecourt was unable to cope with the increasing demand and was demolished along with all the buildings. Excavation began for new fuel holding tanks to be installed before a new office block and garage forecourt could be rebuilt.
The winter weather had been mild and therefore by March 1981, ahead of schedule, the fuel pumps were reopened followed by the rest of the garage area by the beginning of May 1981. Shell was now the fuel suppliers. Alf Royle was the Cheadle General Manager.
Fig. 11 Alf Royle
Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 21.5.1981
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Fig. 12 From the Macclesfield Express and Advertiser 29.11.1984
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The 1980s continued at pace for the brand. A Quickco site had been acquired in Trafford Park and the franchise Budget Rent-a-car was established in Chester. The Deansgate showroom closed in 1983. By 1985 Tim Worrall had been appointed as the Managing Director.
This is the last advert I could find for the Cheadle garage.
Fig. 13 Quicks advert
Manchester Evening News 14.3.1986
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In 1986 although a new dealership opened in Bury, both Ellesmere Port and Cheadle branches were closed. Brett Whittingham, the General Manager at Cheadle moved to Bury. Although the profit forecast was £250,000 for 1986, the value of the site outweighed this. Tim Worrall decided it was essential for the business to reduce their borrowings and put profit back into the group. Quicks at this time were paying over £1 million in interest charges alone.
H & J with Orbit Developments put in a planning application for the site to be used for offices and hi-technology buildings. In October 1986, H & J sold their two and a half acre site to Orbit for £750,000. The sale meant that Quicks interest charges would reduce by £100,000 a year.
Fig. 14 Demolishing Quicks for Southgate 1987
© Ratepayers Association
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Now in its place stands the Southgate Centre.
Fig. 15 Southgate Centre 2021
© H Morgan
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After nearly 50 years association with our village, Quicks garage was no more.
1987 was H & J Quick’s 75th year in the motor trade.
"My dad worked for Quicks for many years from 1962 until around 1992/3. Mostly the Manchester, Old Trafford and Altrincham showrooms. My mum however spent a short time working at this one in the mid-1980s, helping with typing and admin.”
- Alison Murray, Facebook 2021
"My mum worked at Quicks in the 1980s.”
- Kim Orton Mannion, Facebook 2025
Bibliography
A big thank you to Graham Bloxsome for giving me details from the book Quicks, The first 75 years.
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Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser, 21.5.1981
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