A businessman has been unsuccessful in his attempt to have a blue plaque commemorating his £3 million home's connection to Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, removed from the property's gate posts.
Reginald Rix, 67, a car dealer and father of fashion designer Henrietta Rix, purchased the historic former home of the motoring pioneer last year. The property, located in an exclusive area of Cheshire, was built in 1898. Sir Henry Royce lived there from 1898 to 1908. While residing at the house, Royce reputedly worked on inventions in the cellar, preceding his famous partnership with Charles Rolls, whom he met in 1904.
Rix and his wife applied for listed building consent to remove the plaque, which reads: ‘F. Henry Royce co-founder of Rolls-Royce motor cars lived here 1898-1908.’ Despite Rix's ownership of a vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, which his daughter used for her wedding, the application was rejected.
Knutsford town council strongly objected to the removal, stating that the plaque represents a significant local heritage landmark. The council emphasized that the property, while a dwelling, is also a heritage asset that highlights a person of national significance.
The house itself was commissioned by Sir Henry Royce and designed by Gothic revival architects, including Alfred Waterhouse, known for his work on Balliol College, Oxford, and Manchester Town Hall. The commemorative plaque, one of five marking historical points in Knutsford, was initially installed after listed building consent was granted in 2016.
The Rix family purchased the house after Reginald Rix founded the Rix Motor Group in 1996. While the couple's application did not specify reasons for wanting the plaque removed, it has previously attracted Rolls-Royce enthusiasts to the street. The brand's centenary in 2004 saw a procession of Rolls-Royces draw international media attention to the property.
An architectural representative for the Rix family argued that removing the plaque would cause no harm to the building or conservation area, and that the mortar would be repaired. However, Cheshire East council ultimately refused consent, stating that the removal would cause harm to the property's significance and undo a prior enhancement. The council found no convincing justification to outweigh the identified harm.
The Rix couple has a six-month period to appeal the planning department's decision. They were approached for comment.