From “Archer & Co” in 1857 to “Archer Cowley & Co” in 1957. From Pembroke Street (**), off St Aldates, opposite Christ Church College, in South Oxford, to Park End Street, a continuation of New Road (which meets St Aldates at Carfax), in West Oxford, close to the GWR’s station, “100 years of Specialised Service”, providing transport “By Rail” and “By Road” and “By Sea”. This was the apogee of Archer Cowley’s achievements. A century of work as part of Oxford’s ‘Town’ contingent, alongside the ‘Gown’ and academia people, starting small, almost from nothing, and growing by diligent effort and acumen, to become something significant in the town. My father, Fred Archer [“FGBA”] (1905-1991), his father, William Archer (1878-1969), and Fred Archer’s elder brother Arthur Archer (1903-1976), ran the business throughout my life, having taken-over from Messrs James Archer, Mack Cowley, and Richard Rippington, progressively in the 1920s and 1930s. (added 18.2.17).
Dad, FGBA, and his brother Arthur, ran the business in such a quiet, calm, efficient, and pleasant way. In my latter years I have come to admire more and more Dad's smiling and cheerful quiet competence and efficiency and diligence. I remember with affection too, Uncle Arthur’s breezy easy-going manner, which doubtless made its own contribution to keeping the wheels of business well-oiled, not least as he was transport manager.
[Added 19.5.17]: Re (**) actually the firm had premises in New Road before Pembroke Street - see early adverts by the firm, especially the one dated 1872.