A PIECE of Lye history was briefly revealed when the owners of the town’s long-running cycle shop uncovered an old sign which was last seen 70 years ago.
Neil Clee and Charles Ashman, of Bache Brothers cycle shop near Lye Cross, made the discovery when work to remove the old shop sign got underway – almost 18 months after taking over the historic business from David Bache in August 2012.
Work to revamp the shop frontage revealed the original sign of the Star Tea Company, which occupied the building - number 14 Stourbridge Road - when it was first built in 1903.
Former Bache Brothers owner David Bache believes the old sign was last visible in Lye some 70 years ago and he added: “It’s brought a bit of history back from the 1900s.”
He said the removal of the old sign also indicated number 12 Stourbridge Road had once been owned by John T Homer but when number 10 was bought by Bache Brothers in the 1940s a swap of the premises took place so the cycle shop could be extended.
Today Bache Brothers is a dedicated cycle retailer known by bike fans far and wide but up until 1981 it previously also sold household goods, prams and toys.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here