EAW022495 ENGLAND (1949). Robert Bowran and Co Ltd Green Lane Paint Works, Pelaw, from the east, 1949. This image was marked by Aerofilms Ltd for photo editing.

My grandfather, John William Craggs, was chairman of Robert. Bowran and Co. Ltd until he retired in 1955, he died the following year. My uncle became Chairman and my father was a director. I remember going to the office where my dad worked, it is the single storey building in the centre of the photograph, the buildings to the north housed the paint manufacturing business. I am on a film with my parents and grandparents at the opening of the Varnish plant in 1955.



Bowran's Paint was only sold for contract painting, a retail shop was opened but was not a success. For many years Bowran's Paint was used for painting the Tyne Bridge.



Robert Bowran & co was taken over by Hunting Group in the early 1960's, and subsequently closed down.