Grays dealer celebrates a centenary of trading

18 February 2010

There aren’t many locations in the UK that have seen cars sold and serviced from the same site since the end of the 19th century but Orsett Road in Grays, Essex, is celebrating one hundred years of unbroken trading.

Now owned by Paul Brayley, Managing Director of Brayley Honda, the dealership first opened its doors as the New Century Motor Works in 1898 and has remained in its current location on the main thoroughfare in Grays ever since.

Having acquired the business in 2006 from a friend who had lost his sight, Paul Brayley was keen to maintain the historic connection that the dealership had with the town. He commented:

“It’s humbling to think that one family owned this business for over a hundred years so I consider it a privilege and a responsibility to continue such a long established tradition of good, local customer service. This site isn’t just another dealership, it really is a piece of history and part of the fabric of the community.”

In terms of its CSI performance, Brayley Honda Grays is the highest ranked dealer in Honda UK’ s South of England region and in 5th position nationally, among the 200-strong network.

Pictured with the original sign from the New Century Motor Works are, from left, Brian Wood, Dave Knopp and Gary Channing, who have 80 years of combined service at the Orsett Road site.

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