I worked for H Dare and Son between Nov 1962 and Oct 1966.During that time was 'Spec'Housing was their main interest.There were various sites mainly in the Birmingham Staffordshire Stratford up on Avon Henley in Arden areas.They did however have quite a big interest in the Manchester Area and they also built a block of flats in Sandbanks Nr Poole.Chairman Harry Dare took the pent house suite for himself on this development.Other prominent sites Brandwood Park Rd Kings Heath Bham,Abnalls Lane Lichfield,3 or 4 3 storey blocks of flats in Shirley Solihull,Henleydale Flats in Henley in Arden and about 12 luxury houses again in Henley,Flats at Hodge Hill Common,Birmingham,Gillity Village nr Walsall,Endwood Court Handsworth Wood Bham and Houses in the same area.Blocks of Flats in Ulverley Green Rd Olton Solihull. There were also small developments in Burman Rd Shirley and Leech Green Lane Rednal. There were also sites in the Cheltenham area .Dares also had interests in Johanesburg SA mainly Flats if I remember.Some people went from Bham to work in SA.
Harry Dare made his money from building Council housing for Bham Council from around the 50s.They also flirted in the 60s with some Contract work bulding Petrol Stations for the Italian Company Agip but this work really did not take off
Harry Dare was Chairman with Sons Patrick,David,Robin ,Norman Smart,and Charlie Hathaway also Directors.In addition they had a plant hire Company in Stechford Bham run by Peter Hathaway Charlie Hathaways son.
Interestingly Norman Wisdom the Comedian was a friend of Harry Dare and in fact once performed during the staff Christmas Party.I am fairly certain that at the time Wisdom had an interest in a Brickworks in the East Midlands.Dares also had probably the first Volvo Car Dealership in the midlands.
Harry Dare had number of luxury homes during the 60s Bats Hall in Knowle and later Austy Manor Nr Stratford on Avon this was later sold to the Bristish Pregnancy Ass.For many years Miss Dorothy Black who lived on the Stratford Rd Shirley acted as his secretary for many years.Patrick Dare was Lord Mayor of Stratford upon Avon during the 60s and lived in the Ullenhall area.Dares also had an interest in National Hunt Racing and Point to Point in the Stratford area.Around 1963/4 Harry Dare had a fancied runner ,Welshman in The Grand National and treated the entire staff to a day out at Aintree . Welshman failed to get placed.
Dares was quite a place to work and I could write a book about my time there.