The 'Golden Triangle' in the Brass Era: Edwardian motorists flock to Alderley Edge

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Alderley Edge is a village in Cheshire, celebrated for its scenic countryside and proliferation of beautiful historic buildings. Nowadays, however, it is at least equally well-known as part of the so-called Golden Triangle - 'Burberry belt' would perhaps be a more appropriate term - where off-duty footballers from Manchester and Liverpool have built their lairs and motor through the bucolic environs in rather conspicious fashion.

The fact that rich folk drive expensive cars is hardly a revelation. Of course, during those halcyon days of motoring before the Kaiser War, all cars were expensive and only the rich drove them, so we might well ask who are the people who have wrapped themselves up in thick coats and piled into such a handsome procession of horseless carriages to enjoy Alderley Edge on a bright winter's day circa 1912. Are they members of a motor club, or just a group of friends? They have stopped somewhere on the main road through the village, perhaps to avail themselves of the warmth of a local hostelry.

They may be local to Alderley Edge, and they may be driving expensive cars, but it's probably safe to conclude that these characters are not footballers. Most likely, they were well-off members of the upper middle-class who had reached a high station in life through working hard and prospering in industry or trade, and are rightly enjoying the fruits of their labour. Indeed, these stout Edwardians are probably about as far removed in their attitudes, tastes and expectations from today's beneficiaries of the cult of celebrity as it is possible to be, but there is one thing they might very well have in common: the aforementioned clothing label Burberry.

An unlikely link

Long before Burberry became the brand du jour for celebrities and imitations thereof in the early 2000s, it had enjoyed an enviable reputation for durable, weatherproof clothing such as would afford ample protection to equestrians, motorists and aviators. Having invented the waterproof material gabardine in the late 19th century, Burberry was selected as the outfitter of choice for polar explorers Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton. Air Commodore Edward Maitland wore Burberry gabardine while conducting his record-breaking flight by hot-air balloon from Crystal Palace to Russia in 1908.

By 1919, motoring magazines ran advertisements advising 'For Protection on the Car no safeguard can equal The Invincible Burberry. The Motor Burberry is univerally recognised as the most perfect safeguard for motoring.' Two prominent lady motorcyclists, sisters Nancy and Betty Debenham, wrote in their 1928 book Motorcycling for Women, 'Most motorbike clothing... is very hot and stuffy in warm weather but this is not the case with Burberry, which we wear in all seasons.' In 1937, Burberry sponsored a record-breaking flight from Croydon to Cape Town by Arthur Clouston and Betty Kirby-Green in a de Havilland DH88 Comet—needless to say who provided their tailoring.

Oh, brave old world, that had such people in it... But let's not lose sight of this photograph, and the fine cars in it. Once again, we need some help with identifications. We're quite sure the car nearest the camera is a Hotchkiss, but the rest have us stumped. As always, leave your thoughts, comments and suggestions below.

Words: Zack Stiling, photograph: Andrew Smith
 

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