Richard Gornall - a Pilling Bike Maker

by Andrew Jenkinson
 
Pilling has been associated with bicycles almost as long as they have been made. The first type to be made in Pilling were "Bone-shakers", these were made in the mid-19th century by Mr Joseph Danson in his smithy next to the Ship Inn. The other types of bicycles made in Pilling were "Ordinaries" (Penny Farthings) and "Safety" cycles. These were made by my great grandfather, Mr Richard Gornall, in his workshop at Damside and later at Jarvis Carr farm. The "Ordinaries" were made with either a 52-inch, 54-inch or 56-inch wheel and were advertised in 1887 at £5 each, including tuition. Mr Gornall also organised races at Damside for "Ordinaries", which could be ridden at great speed. (In 1887 Humber advertised their Ordinary Racer as the fastest bicycle in the world, 1 mile having been ridden in 2 minutes 30 seconds.) Pilling Band played in between races and the events were concluded by a firework display.

In 1888 he made his first cross-frame safety cycle; this was much lower than the Ordinary, it had solid rubber tyres and chain drive to the rear wheel. A story told to me by an elderly relation tells of testing this bike. The test rider was Jimmy, the man who dried grain at the nearby windmill. The cycle was taken to the top of a steep ramp leading to the drying kiln; Jimmy climbed on board and off he went at great speed, but with the machine having a fixed gear Jimmy could not keep his feet on the pedals and when he reached the bottom of the ramp he shot straight across the road and into a field. Mr Gornall and the small crowd that had gathered to witness the test run ran down the slope after him. By the time they reached him he had picked himself up and he reported that the bike was a huge success. The next "Safety" Mr Gornall made was in 1895. For this he went back to front wheel drive using a geared front hub; this enabled him to use much smaller wheels than on the earlier "Ordinaries" with direct drive. This bicycle was fitted with pneumatic tyres.

By the turn of the century, Richard Gornall was becoming involved with motor cars and motor cycles. This left little time for making cycles, so he started selling mass-produced models, mainly the very successful Rover Safety.

At this time (1900) Richard Gornall's two sons, Fredrick and Albert and their cousin John Bradshaw were becoming established as top-class cycle racers. They all held amateur athletic licences and between them won many races throughout the North of England.

To commemorate one hundred years since my great grandfather made "Ordinaries" I have made a 54-inch "Ordinary". I was very surprised how easy it was to ride and how comfortable it was, although it must have been a different story in the 1880s. Riding an "Ordinary" down the rough country lanes must have been very hazardous.

Richard Gornall died in 1916 aged 51 years.