Joseph Lucas founded the company which would go on to be Lucas Industries in 1860. Based originally in nearby Great and Little King Streets the company expanded from producing pressed metal merchandise becoming a major supplier of automotive electrical components. Harry, son of Joseph, designed a bicycle lamp in 1879 which he named King of the Road, a name which would go on to be associated with a number of Lucas products. Major British Manufacturers such a Morris Motors, BSA, Norton, Austin and Triumph were some of its early customers. It continued to expand acquiring several of its competitors until it merged with the North American Varity Corporation in 1996 to form LucasVarity PLC.
The factory on this site, at the Northern end of the courtyard, was in use until 1995, lay unoccupied for five years and has now been redeveloped into the flats you see today.
The cache itself is a magnetic keysafe with a logbook and pencil. It is placed in the courtyard outside the old building and is surrounded on all sides by residential flats, either redeveloped or new build. The courtyard itself, however, is publically accessible and often used as a short cut between Great Hampton St and Branston St.
Whilst the cache is not strictly wheelchair accessible because of some rather large gravel, the courtyard is and it is only the last few feet which may cause a problem. Cachers with less serious mobility problems (e.g. walking only with the aid of a stick, as I do) should be fine.
Please replace the cache exactly where you found it so that it is hidden from the doors. This should make sense when you find it!