A British Icon Takes Pride of Place at Bakewell’s Newest Landmark
When a beautiful new destination opens its doors, it’s only fitting that a beautiful piece of British history helps welcome visitors.
That’s exactly why we were delighted to place one of the stars of the Great British Car Journey collection – our stunning Railton – outside the brand-new Charleston in the heart of Bakewell as it officially opened it’s doors this past weekend.
The Charleston has transformed the former Royal Bank of Scotland building into an elegant new restaurant, cocktail bar and live music venue, bringing a touch of American interwar glamour to one of Derbyshire’s best-loved market towns. Inspired by the Art Deco era, the venue celebrates timeless style, craftsmanship and hospitality – values that sit perfectly alongside a car that showcased British coach building but with an American twist.
A Car Built for Style and Speed
The brain child of Noel Macklin who also founded the Invicta marque, the Railton combined sound American engineering with English style. Underneath the elegant British body, there was a chassis and running gear from the Hudson Motor Car Company based in Detroit. The engine was a 4.2 litre straight eight giving out well over 100 bhp. Reid Railton was a genius responsible for the design of Sir Malcom Campbell’s Bluebird cars and the even more successful Railtons driven by John Cobb which held the Land speed record for decades and the outright lap record at Brooklands. Railton lent his name to Macklin’s vision and ensured that the cars went as well as they looked.
The Perfect Partnership
The Charleston draws inspiration from the glamour, elegance and optimism of the 1920s and 30s, while the Railton was the first car to marry American engineering with British style. Together they offer a glimpse into an era when craftsmanship, attention to detail and bold design were breaking conventions in a whirlwind of progress and style.
Whether you’re visiting Bakewell to experience the new venue, explore the Peak District or simply enjoy a day out, keep an eye out for the Railton proudly parked in the marketplace or cruising round The Charleston. And if seeing it sparks your curiosity, you’ll find even more incredible stories waiting just down the road at Great British Car Journey in Ambergate, where over 150 British cars chart the remarkable story of our nation’s motoring heritage.
We’d like to wish everyone at The Charleston every success as they open this exciting new chapter in Bakewell. We can’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than with a car that was a pioneer in transatlantic co-operation.
