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The Norman Cycles Club is based at the Willesborough Windmill in Ashford Kent, home town to the Norman factory.

ABOUT US

Charles and Fred Norman started their frame making, enamelling and metal plating business (Kent Plating & Enamelling Co) in a garden shed just off Jemmett Road, Ashford, Kent on their return from France at the end of the First World War.

In the 1920’s they started producing cycles and went on to produce many thousands, they acquired a larger premises in Victoria Road.

In 1935 they had a new factory built in Beaver Road, the company was renamed Norman Cycles Limited. Many cycles and mopeds were exported under the Rambler trademark to Central America, Malaya, Canada and other Commonwealth countries.

Club History

The Norman Cycles Club is based at the Willesborough Windmill in Ashford Kent, home town to the Norman factory. The motorcycles are rare and we are the only club dedicated to keeping them on the road. The National Autocycle & Cyclemotor Club (NACC) do a splendid job for the small motorised Normans, their web site is well worth checking out (www.buzzing.org).

Many of the former factory buildings still stand in Beaver Road, the new road outside of the former factory site has been named Norman Road.

A museum is located in the windmills barn, this features a collection of cycles and mopeds, and a large wall display.

The mill is open 14.00 to 17.00 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays from late March to late September.

The club was formed early in 2001 and by the end of 2001 had sixty two members, including Charles Normans son, Brian Norman who is the Clubs Honarary President. We have a number of very active members these include three in Derbyshire and members in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Bermuda and Australia.

The membership is diverse with members of the Norman family, former employees, cycle enthusiasts, tricycle owners, moped owners, trials competition people and motorcycle owners.