A TWISTED HISTORY
In 2020 we bought the old ATS garage in the heart of the market town of Thirsk.
As we peeled back the layers of time and dust, we uncovered secrets about the building’s past. There was handwriting on the wall in the back room, graffiti by ATS engineers and the old cinema screen. The Old Cinema began life as the Gaiety Theatre and suffered a suspicious fire involving gramophone records. It was then transformed into Bell’s garage before ATS bought it in the late 70s.
Now it proudly belongs to Twisted. Anti-ordinary is at the heart of this project. It’s taken us time to research and restore this space properly, and we like to think that we’ve honoured its past.
Come and see this piece of North Yorkshire history.
EARLY 1900S
1900
The early years of the 20th Century brought the introduction of the motor vehicle. In the market town of Thirsk, nestled between the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, brothers Jack and David Bell saw an opportunity and managed to secure premises and workshops in the front of the Corn Mill on Long Street.
1910
1914 brought the First World War and with it Jack Bell volunteered to join the Forces to fight for his country, followed soon after by Herbert. Herbert and Elsie Marshall were married in Middlesborough a few days before his enlistment. Elsie was now responsible for The Gaiety Theatre whilst eldest brother David Bell continued building the motor business.
1920
In the late 1920's Mrs Bell and Mr Powers were called before the Local Magistrate for opening earlier than permitted. Apparently Mrs Bell decided to open 15 minutes early which Mr Powers was upset about, so he opened 15 minutes earlier and so it went on until the Magistrate told them both that if they were to appear before him again he would close both cinemas!
MID 1900S
1930
'The Mystery of The Red Barn' was showing at The Gaiety Cinema in the 1930's when one night a fire broke out, causing considerable damage. Legend has it that whilst investigating the fire in the following days, a highly flammable 78rpm gramophone record had been placed on every seat! However this could just be an urban legend!
1950
In the early 1950's David and Mary extended their range in the car show room and became agents for Citroen. Sadly, David Bell died in his sleep a few years later on the 14th February 1956.
1960/1970
By 1960, Bell's Garage was closed and the property sold. The three Bell brothers passed into history.
The building then became Associated Tyre Specialist or ATS for short in the 1970's and that is how it stayed for many years.
IT’S A SPECIAL PLACE
Twisted founder, Charles Fawcett, passed the building almost every day. Just like the Bell brothers before him, Charles saw an opportunity to aquire building. He uncovered its past and sympathetically restored and transformed it.
“It’s an impressive building alive with history. Up in the rafters, you could see the old cinema screen right at the back of the main space. In a little room, accessed through a tiny door, there are scribbles for adverts all over the wall. I think the owner drew them in 1925 because it’s where his desk used to be. If walls could talk, I’d love to hear the stories.”
Charles Fawett, founder of Twisted.