John Henry Knight donation

20 November 2024

John Henry Knight, of Farnham in Surrey, designed one of the first purpose-built petrol-driven vehicles to run on public roads in Britain which he had built by local engineer George Parfitt in 1895.

John Henry Knight designed one of the first purpose-built petrol-driven vehicles to run on public roads in Britain.The vehicle is currently on display in the National Motor Museum.

In April 2024, we received a donation of personal papers and photographs relating to John Henry Knight, from his great-grandson. It includes some previously unpublished images of early motoring (as attached) and some of his other inventions, such as a brick laying machine.

Included in the donation were copies of books published by Knight to help others to get to grips with the new technology of the time, such as building your own motor car and installing electric lighting in your country house.