PEARSON CYCLE SPECIALISTS 1860 - PRESENT DAY 

In 1860, Thomas Pearson, moved to Sutton from Cobham and set up a blacksmiths shop at 126 High Street Sutton - the site we are in now. The High Street had developed as a stop off point for horse drawn trade vehicles travelling between London and south coast ports. It's steep high street thoroughfare proved difficult for heavy loads and a strong horse was often hired from the stables at the Cock Hotel in the lower high street, to assist them up the hill.

Tom Pearson, then 27, brought with him four children and continued to have a total of nine children. They lived above the smithy in two rooms (now one show room) and when the older children grew up they had to sleep in the hayloft of the wooden stable behind the shop (now the clothing and Pro Shop). Water was pumped from a well at the top of our yard to supply water for the family and business.

Trade progressed in the smithy, and the second youngest of the children, Harry Pearson (b.1870), took over from his father who died in 1901. It was around this time when Harry finally made a decisive move - thank goodness- to turn his blacksmith skills towards bicycles. Smithies had always repaired bicycles and as the popularity of horse drawn travel was dwindling, it proved too good an opportunity to miss.

By 1908, he was supplying Sunbeam, Swift, Triumph and Pearson's own model, the ''Endeavour'. He also provided cycle hire and riding lessons at one shilling per half-hour. His wife Elizabeth took on the paperwork and it was reputed that Harry took almost no holiday for the whole of his working life. They had two boys, Arthur and Len Pearson, who both followed their father into the business.

By 1930, Pearsons supplied courier bikes to most local shops and serviced the Post Office fleet. During World War 2, both Arthur and Len were exempt from military service as part of the home effort. Bicycles and motor cycles were very efficient means of cheap transport for factory workers. As well as their cycle trade skills they regularly took the night watch for air raids.

Arthur Pearson married and had two boys - Roger and Christopher Pearson. Arthur was a great historian and was incredibly enthusiastic about vintage bicycles and collected a fleet of Penny Farthings which are still on show at the shop. Roger followed his father and uncle into the shop having completed three years national service, the last of which was served in REME. He was keen to bring the cycle shop up to the standard that retail outlets had achieved in an increasingly competitive market, although he received opposition from the 'old school' values that the older generation held.

By the early 80's that the shop was modernised. It now had Raleigh 5 star status and capitalised on the booming business climate, especially with the introduction of mountain bikes. Roger Pearson and his wife Carol had three children. Guy joined the firm in 1995 and William followed a year later. Roger was sadly diagnosed with cancer and was no longer able to work full time. Arthur Pearson passed away at the age of 90 in February 1997 and Roger tragically died little more than a month later. The two brothers now represent the fifth generation of Pearsons to run the shop, and have set about modernising it again, which they continue to do now.

Pearson Cycle Specialists strive to maintain the reputation set by four previous generations, providing the very best service and advice to all our customers. Due to the rapid expansion of multiples in the cycle industry in recent years, our aim is to cater for more specialist customers, selling high specification cycles and equipment, as well as catering for high street sales. All the staff, including the owners, are keen cyclists and regularly race both on and off road.

Our mail order service is playing an increasingly important role, already providing a worldwide service to many people, and now the internet provides a new and exciting means of cycle trading.

Receipt from August 11th 1908 - fitting tyre to bassinette wheel 7.6 - prices haven't increased much since then!

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