J Plater’s Cart, Van & Carriage Works

Inside this bustling workshop in Haddenham, a group of craftsmen and apprentices pose with pride among wheels, chisels, and timber. It’s the year 1903, and J. Plater’s Carriage Works is in full operation, producing the carts and vans that powered local trade and rural life in Edwardian England.

Every face tells a story—of hard-earned skill passed from father to son, of the precision and teamwork required to build wagons that could endure country roads and heavy loads. The young boys with tools in hand reflect the apprenticeship system of the time, learning a trade that would shape their future.

This is not just a workshop; it’s a window into the golden age of craftsmanship, before the rise of motor vehicles changed transport forever.

🪵 Do you have photos of old workshops or tradesmen in your family? 📤 Share them at Oldpik.com and help preserve the visual heritage of working Britain.