Cork motor dealership archive to be donated to city 

The donation also includes a fully restored James Johnson-built horse-drawn ‘ladies’ carriage, dating from the middle of the 19th century

Johnson & Perrott Motor Group has donated historical documents to the Cork City Archives and is loaning a fully restored James Johnson carriage dating back to the middle of the 19th century, and a sign from the original carriage works on what was then called ‘Nelson Place Carriage Works’ to Cork Public Museum Photographed here are Brian McGee, Senior Archivist, Cork City and County Archives Service; Mark Whitaker, CEO of Johnson & Perrott Motor Group and Daniel Breen, Curator, Cork Public Museum. Photo Joleen Cronin

One of the country’s oldest motor dealerships and limited companies is donating its remarkable archive to Cork city today, providing a fascinating insight into the commercial and social life of the city as transport evolved from horse-drawn carriages to motor cars.

The archive of Johnson & Perrott, one of Cork's great family-owned businesses which dates from 1861 when a city centre carriage-building business was acquired by James Johnson, includes company documents, contracts and advertisements, as well as 11 personal diaries and some 200 photographs, negatives and glass plates.