Nunn's Bicycle shop/Garage

8 years ago...

Hello,
Could anyone help me please. I would be interested to know if anyone remembers a shop in Brighton Road called Nunn's, a bicycle shop and garage? Or know someone who perhaps worked there?
I believe there was a petrol pump outside the shop? Does anyone have any photographs of the shop at all or on that shows it in the background please?

Thanks

Comments

Hi my father in law owned the Nunn's shop

Hi I used to be a despatch rider for a company in Victoria Road Surbiton back in 1981 and I used Nuns a few times for wheel repairs

Used to take my Manx Norton wheels to have them balanced

Same did my goldies as well

Most likely my granfather Vic who did your wheels

My Father was a cousin of the owners of the shop and knew "uncle Jim" and Vic Nunn. My Father told me many interesting stories, unfortunately the details are a bit vague now (I am 78). But I feel I should add a couple of interesting points. The originator of the shop, who I believe was Vic's grandfather, built the very first "cross spoked" Reinforced wheel (all earlier spokes were radial) Whether he invented it or not I do not know. I believe Nunns were known, virtually world wide in the racing fraternity, for building and balancing wheels for racing bikes. Way back I actually met a Road Racer who knew of them and used them.

hi my name is james nunn david nunn is my father Charles nunn was my grandad.

Thank you for your comments, really interesting.
117 Brighton Road is now The Museum of Futures - a Community space from which, amongst other things we are running a project, "Wheels of Time", tracing the history of Cycling in the Royal Borough and particularly Surbiton.

Unfortunately there are no contact details on your message....If you could get in touch with me directly at keithmcmahon@blueyonder.co.uk I would like to gather your memories and have them included in our project.
Many thanks, Regards, Keith McMahon

My name is Tim and I lived in Surbiton in the 50 & 60's. My bike parts came from there and my Bond Minicar was Mot'd there. I recall it being driven out of the workshop with a Tapley meter on board to test the retardation. It passed!

Hi my name is james nunn I'm live in chard if the shop is 117 118 brighton rd it was our family buisness my dad was last to run it

My name is Stuart Wills and my father was a friend of Charles Nunn.
I worked at the shop on Saturdays from approx. 1967 to 1973. I also used to delivery bikes that had been bought as Christmas presents.
I knew David Nunn and his cousin whose father was Vic Nunn
Please contact me if wish to on swills@fsmail.net

Thanks very much for the pictures! I own the old petrol pump and currently restoring it. Would love to see pictures showing it if anyone has any

Hi, I have a couple of photos of Nunn and Sons' Cycle and Motor Works when it was on Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton (where the fish and chip shop is now). Links: https://flic.kr/p/CegW2h https://flic.kr/p/BH58Lg

Hello,
Yes I remember it well because in 1959 I was bought a new Raleigh bicycle after my 11+. I recall the bike was red and white with a white saddle bag which I was embarrassed about. My father knew the shop owners, two brothers, one was more approachable than the other. The premises were large with the showroom to the right of the building; and yes, there was a petrol pump outside, National Benzole. Next to the petrol was concrete driveway ( about 50yds) which led to double wooden doors and a large push bike parking area. Bikes on the right were waiting repairs, usually punctures at a cost of 2/6 and the those on the left were completed repairs. Behind the parking was another door which led into the workshop. I recall it smelling of oil and rubber solution. I used Nunn's for several years. When I got a motorcycle I used to take the fouled up spark plugs to Nunn's for cleaning which was simply sandblasting using a Champion Plug Cleaning machine.....cost a tanner...(6d pence). Nunn's closed in the 1970's. Sadly no pics just vivid memories!

Venus

That was my family buisness my dad was last to run it

Hi lloyd nunn here :) Im sure you may of seen my brothers post somwhere up top,my dad owned the business after my granddad and great grandad ran it previously we had many happy memories though we were very young then.i have some of the old deeds to the business and will dig them out and see if there are any pics,I remember the pump being in a bad way back then so to see it restored again will be fantastic and somthing our family will be proud of.good luck :)

Good Morning

My name is Keith McMahon and, having lived in Surbiton for nearly 60 years, I am contributing to the Wheels of Time project which will be displayed at 117 Brighton Road. This address used to be Nunn's and is now the Museum of Futures where the exhibition will be displayed. The Wheels of Time project is tracing the history of cycling in the Royal Borough back through the past 15o years.

I wonder if you could contact me directly either by email at keithmcmahon@blueyonder.co.uk or on mobile at 07802 782903 that we might have a chat about your memories of the shop and the Nunn family?

Many thanks

Kind Regards, Keith

117 Brighton Road is now The Museum of Futures - a Community space from which, amongst other things we are running a project tracing the history of Cycling in the Royal Borough and particularly Surbiton.
Nunns was part of my childhood and it would be great to get in touch with James and Lloyd and get their memories of the family and the shop included in the project. We would particularly like to know how the shop was laid ou and what it looked like so that we can reconstruct it with a degree of authenticity.
If either or both of you could get in touch, that would be wonderful - Thank You Keith McMahon keithmcmahon@blueyonder.co.uk

You might be interested in my posting yesterday. However, I don't think I can add anything more that might be of interest. The direct family might be able to help if you are interested.

Thank you for the replies, great to hear from family of the shop owners.
The pump is now owned by a friend and restorer but if I can get it back one day I would as regret selling it. It's in good hands either way though and I will try and get some pictures of it restored. It has a rare upper cylinder lubricant dispenser on the side of t too which appears to have always been on there.

Thank you my name is james nunn me and my brother were next in line to take over I am 32 now lädt time I saw the shop was 1988 unfortunately Halford opened down the rd and no one wanted custom bikes anymore funny how it's changed now people want them again

My father worked for my gandfather up to the point the shop was sold, and Vic Nunn my granfather continued after the shop was sold, making custom rims and wheels from his workshop there up to the point the new owener (Surbiton Equiment Hire) sold the premesis and then he continued from his home

You must be mike & annetts son I'm john westwood used to work there on Saturdays & scholl holidays with my dad Bert Westwood. Hope your mum & dad are doing ok still.

Hello James
Thought you might like to know that after some negotiations I have this week managed to buy back the old petrol pump. Still very original. Cant work out how to upload pictures. I'm in east Devon too if you ever passing down this way your welcome to come and see it.

wow amazing thank you im in crewkerne area not far be nice to see some pictures

Have added some pictures to our website (vintageautomobilia.co.uk) I have no idea how to put them on here though. Can send some to you or your welcome to visit to see it.

Check out our website (http://vintageautomobilia.co.uk), there is a picture of it on there, If your able to send me contact details I'll send more pics to you too or your welcome.to come and see it.

Hi where in Devon are you

I have just managed to buy back the petrol pump that was outside the shop. Still in original condition!
Cant seem to add a picture..

its nice to see my family's old business still talked about

My late husband’s hobby was motorcycle racing, sorting out the garage I came across a J.E. Nunn Ltd label, dirty & oily!
Kath Edwards

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

By posting content on Surbiton.com, you agree to adhere to the following guidelines.

  • Your username and password must only be used by you, keep them safe. If a posting is made using your username and password it will be considered to have been posted by you. If you have a friend who wants to use our site and post messages on the site, show them how to register.
  • Be courteous at all times, inciting racial hatred, posting abusive, obscene, threatening, harassing, defamatory, libellous or sexually explicit material or any material that is found to be offensive is not acceptable and we may suspend your username and password.
  • Retaliating to offensive posts causes more problems for other users on the discussion boards. Just report such messages to us using the Feedback link which is available at the top of every page or the 'report this' link associated with individual postings. We will act on every report we receive.
  • Please respect other people's work and do not post material that infringes copyright.
  • Do not post information that you know to be confidential or sensitive or otherwise in breach of the law. You should only post material that you know to be public knowledge. If you have any doubts do not post it on the site.
  • Never attempt to gain unauthorised access to any area of the site. This is known as hacking and is illegal.
  • Content posted represents the opinions of the author, and does not represent the opinions of Surbiton.com or its affiliates and has not been approved or issued by Surbiton.com. You should be aware that the other participants are strangers to you and may make statements which may be misleading, deceptive or wrong.
  • Spoofing or posing as another user is unacceptable. Anonymous users' postings should always be considered with suspicion.
  • Help keep Surbiton.com a safe place for information and opinion. Please alert us of any anti-social behaviour as described above.
Please note that Surbiton.com does not monitor the comments posted and we are therefore reliant upon users reporting antisocial behaviour.