1935 Bentley 3½ Litre Park Ward Sports Saloon

A sound, clean and sharp example of the ever-popular and well-balanced in appearance Park Ward design, in appealing, correct condition throughout. The paintwork, although not without blemish, is of high quality, and the interior is fresh and lovely, recently re-upholstered in beige leather with black piping, accompanied by excellent headlining and carpets, also recent, including in the boot. The frontal aspect is impressive, with P100 headlights, a correct spotlight and twin Lucas ‘Alto’ horns. The car has been sensibly upgraded to flashing indicators, the fronts being neatly incorporated into the sidelights – very wise for use in modern traffic conditions, but at the same time, for authenticity, the original trafficators are still in place and working. Offered serviced and newly MoT tested.

Price. £39,500.

Snippets: The Doggart, Huxley, Charrington & Stewart-Clark families.

The 1st owner of B198DG, Norman Doggart (1908/73) was the youngest son of Arthur Doggart (died 1932) who in 1895 bought the firm Hedley, Swan & Co in Bishop Aukland.  Norman & his older brother Arthur both served as Chairman after their father died with Norman’s son Jamie carrying on the mantle until Doggarts closed in 1980.  Norman & Arthur were both sportsmen especially in the fields of cricket & football.  In 1937 Norman wed Miss. Ruth Ferens, the Ferens family of Bishop Auckland were mill-owners who produced flour & “horse provender” for the pit ponies!  Doggarts were well known for their window displays showing their range of stock: Trutex, Johns-Crafts Pyjamas, Millington Gloves, Mybro knit-ware & the Twomax Kilt Set!

In 1946 B198DG was in the stock of W. M. Couper – a respected car dealer & Rally competitor – he competed in many Monte Carlo Rallys in Bentleys, Jaguars & Armstrong Siddeleys, he later wrote a book on his adventures.

In 1947 the car was bought by Anthony Tuer Shawcross of Ipswich – his eclectic family connections include: his mother-in-law Lady Albinia Donaldson, nee Lady Hobart-Hampden, grand-daughter of 6th Earl of Buckingham.  His maternal grand-father was Thomas Henry Huxley a prominent scientist & Darwinist, the Huxley family included artists, doctors, architects & biologists.  Two of Anthony’s aunts were married to the same man but not at the same timer!! Marian an artist (1859/87) married Hon John Collier in 1879, two years after he was widowed, he married Marian’s younger sister Ethel (1866/1941).

Anthony changed his mind about B198DG & it was immediately re-sold to S. H. Charrington of the Ipswich Malting Co.  His title was Lt-Col Sydney Herbert Charrington (1878/1954) CMG DSO – military officer, elite sportsman & landowner, of the Charrington Brewery family – he was 1 of 9 children with an age difference of 17 years!  He joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1899 & later served with the Kings Hussars in South Africa & later in Kenya where he later farmed the estate Ngirimori. During WWI he was seconded to the Machine Gun Corps & later the Tank Brigade with the rank of Brigadier.  After the war he settled in Kenya until 1931 when he returned to the UK & lived at Rockfield, Monmouth. Sydney’s uncle Frederick Charrington (1850/1936) was an English social reformer who renounced his succession to the brewing fortune in order to devote his life to temperance work, his interest in the family firm was bought out by his younger brother John (Sydney’s father).

From 1950/60 B189DG was with Jack Stewart-Clark a great-grandson of Stewart Clark the thread magnate.  In 1952 after having served with the Coldstream Guards in Tripoli and then 3 years at Balliol College Jack joined the firm of J & P Coats in 1952. His managerial roles saw him being the MD of the Pakistan works then of its Holland division.  In 1999 he inherited Dundas Castle which had been used by the RAF as their HQ for Balloon Barrage Operations – within 5 years Dundas was launched as a hotel and hosted many weddings, golfing events & unusually an annual re-enactment of the Life of Christ!!