Madelvic Motor Carriage Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automobile manufacturing |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Founder | William Peck |
| Defunct | 1900 |
| Fate | Insolvency; taken over by Kingsburgh Motor Company |
| Headquarters | Granton, Edinburgh , Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Products | Electric vehicles |
The Madelvic Motor Carriage Company, located in Granton, Scotland, was among the pioneering manufacturers in the early automobile industry.
History
Established by William Peck, who served as Edinburgh’s City Astronomer, the firm aimed to advance electric vehicle innovations. Between 1898 and 1900, Madelvic assembled an electric brougham at their Granton facility. This model incorporated a distinctive three-wheeled front axle assembly containing the motor and batteries, complemented by a small central wheel positioned behind the axle, resulting in a five-wheeled configuration. This front unit was also adaptable for attachment to horse-drawn carriages. To promote the technology, Peck operated a public transport service connecting Granton and Leith. Additionally, a brief production run included a more traditional front-wheel-drive electric vehicle. Despite these efforts, electric automobiles failed to achieve lasting commercial success, leading to Madelvic’s insolvency; subsequently, the Kingsburgh Motor Company assumed control in 1900.
The original Madelvic factory building remains standing in Granton and holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving car factory in Britain. It is currently undergoing refurbishment for use as residential and office premises. Following Madelvic’s closure, the premises were utilized by Kingsburgh and later by Stirlings Motor Carriages Ltd, which manufactured cars and buses there, exporting some units to Australia. In 1925, ownership transferred to United Wire, which operated on-site until 2001.
In 2001, Waterfront Edinburgh Limited—a collaboration between City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Enterprise—acquired the property. Redevelopment plans were formulated by Buredi, a partnership between The Burrell Company and the City Council, envisioning conversion into apartments, townhouses, and commercial office space with designs by Malcolm Fraser Architects. The structure is listed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. In July 2024, Lar Housing Trust submitted proposals to transform the production block into 28 townhouse units.
See also
References
- History of Electric Vehicles
- Edinburgh Architecture
- British Motor Manufacturers
- Granton History Group
External links
- Category B listed buildings in Edinburgh
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Scotland
- Electric vehicles introduced in the 19th century
- Manufacturing companies based in Edinburgh
- Car manufacturers of the United Kingdom
- Veteran vehicles
- Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland
- 1898 establishments in Scotland
- 1900 disestablishments in Scotland
- British companies disestablished in 1900
- British companies established in 1898
- Granton, Edinburgh
- National Transport Trust Red Wheel sites