“From mid-April William Morris’s first bicycle will be on view at the Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire beside the Historic Cycle collection.
In 1893 William Morris received his first commission to build a bicycle from a Mr Pilchard, the Rector of St Clement’s Church in Oxford, who was a large man needing a twenty-seven inch (69cms) bicycle frame. Morris made the bicycle, which became a prominent advert for his business as the Rector cycled round his parish. Forty-four years later William Morris, who by then was Lord Nuffield, bought the bicycle back.
Recurring asthma attacks had forced William Morris’s father’s retirement. Money was tight so Morris, as the eldest son, had to leave the Church School in Cowley and start earning at the age of fourteen. He entered an apprenticeship to a bicycle repairer.
After 9 months Morris thought he was making lots of money for his principal and asked for a pay rise. It was not forthcoming. He decided that he could make more money working for himself and set up his own cycle repair business in a brick building in the garden of his home at 16 James Street.
As his business rapidly expanded, Morris took over the front room of his home as his salesroom. Further expansion meant Morris needed more space, so in 1901 he rented 48 High Street, Oxford for “The Celebrated Morris Cycles”. Additional premises at 1 Queens Lane were used for storage and repair of bicycles. Morris gained an important contract for the repair of all cycles used by the Oxford Telegraph Office (Post Office).
Later Morris started making motorcycles before manufacturing Morris cars and built his motor empire.”