There has been a shop on the site of Kingston's Auto Spares for well over 100 years. John Hayward went behind the scenes to find out a more about the past, present and future of this venerable Portswood business.
"Kingston's auto spares must be one of the most well-known independent retailers in Portswood. Originally opened as a general store in 1899, it didnt move into auto spares until 1930. The owner was a Mr Kingston, hence the name that has remained the same since then. The business was sold to Mr Watts in the 50s and sold again to the current owner, John Reynolds in the 80s.
An interesting feature of the shop is that it is part of the grade two listed building; Swiss Cottage (pictured).
The business is also split in two and has a small outlet around the corner in which is now mainly used for storage.
There have been great changes for Kingston's over the years. The boom times saw the business employing five people but the advent of new technology, extended warranties on cars and extended periods between services reduced the high demand for items that enabled car owners to do their own servicing.
Now they have a steady trade specialising in parts for English and European cars and the supply of general auto accessories.
Today, Kingston's has fewer employees than in the boom years, but what sets it apart, like many other small independents, is the personal service offered. If youre not sure what you need then the staff, who all have motor trade experience, will do their best to help. In fact, several years ago, the shop featured on BBC local and national news as an employer that gave opportunities to older employees (the ones with experience!)
Perhaps Kingston's will be one of those businesses that benefit from the credit crunch as people spend more time keeping their cars going in good condition, rather than buying new.
John Hayward
Are you a Kingstons customer? Do you have memories of Mr Kingston or Mr Watts? Share your stories by leaving a comment on the site.