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James Raymond Wright originally had a small restaurant in "Old" Welwyn. His daughter Betty believes this was called the 'Well Inn' and was situated in front of the Pavilion Cinema. Her father had the Bridge Road Restaurant built in 1936 and the family moved to WGC in early 1938, living at 55 Woodhall Lane until 1961. Betty's mother worked at the restaurant all through the war and she served meals, etc. to many of the stars who were working at the film studio in Broadwater Road. Betty seems to remember an unexploded bomb in Peartree Lane not far from the Restaurant and her memory is of a British Restaurant in a long temporary building built in the grounds of Norton Grinding Wheel close to Barcley Corsets. Mr Wright served in the R.A.F. during the war as a catering officer and only in 1947 was he able to resume his business once more. He became quite famous for his ice cream, made on the premises, and he also held the first concession for Kunzle Cakes which were delicious, very chocolaty and a good way of getting chocolate as sweets were still on ration. Mr Wright died in 1957 and Betty's mother, Betty and her husband kept the Restaurant running until early 1961 when it was sold. A few years later it became a bank for a short while before being demolished. Our thanks to Betty for supplying this information.

Bridge Road Restaurant
The Bridge Road Restaurant was established in 1936 primarily for the purpose of catering for the employees of those factories which were then without canteens of their own. In 1941 the premises were placed at the disposal of a local firm for use solely as a works canteen. This photograph is dated c1938 and was donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Betty S as part of the 'Where Do You Think We Worked?' project.
Bridge Road Restaurant
James Raymond Wright was the Managing Director of the Bridge Road Restaurant in Bridge Road East, which he had built in 1936. Here Mr Wright's business card describes the Bridge Road Restaurant Ltd as Industrial & General Caterers and as Ice Cream Manufacturers. His daughter Betty remembers that after the war her father "became quite famous for his ice cream which he made on the premises".
Bridge Road Restaurant
An undated photograph of Betty aged around 2 years outside the Bridge Road Restaurant. It was run by her father James R Wright until his death in 1957 after which Betty's mother, Betty and her husband kept the Restaurant running until early 1961 when it was sold. It became a bank for a short while before being demolished. This picture was donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Betty S as part of the 'Where Do You Think We Worked?' project.
Bridge Road Restaurant
Photograph of Welwyn Football team showing manager Jim Wright (who would become Managing Director of the Bridge Road Restaurant in WGC in 1936) on the far left of the back row when the team were celebrating their success in the Welwyn Hospital Cup in season 1934-35. The article and photograph were published in the Herald newspaper on 5th December 1969 and this copy was donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Jim's daughter Betty as part of the 'Where Do You Think We Worked? project.
Bridge Road Restaurant
WGC official handbook & directory for 1953-54. Pages 94-95 Bridge Road Restaurant. Item donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust by Ken W as part of the 'Where Do You Think We Worked?' project.
 
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