History of Burley District Public Transport
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History of railways in Wharfedale focusing on Burley in Wharfedale Railway Station.
Horse Drawn Stage Coaches
Information below from The Old Coaching Days in Yorkshire by Tom Bradley (published 1889).
Format: start date, name of coach, route.
Format: start date, name of coach, route.
1807-1843 - Union - Leeds and Kendal via Otley. Ran on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, returned Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays.
1816-1843 - True Briton - Leeds and Kendal via Otley
1816 - A stage coach named Pilot or Royal Pilot ran daily between York and Liverpool taking 18 hours. It travelled via Harewood, Pool and Otley (changed horses at the White Horse) then via Burley to Skipton. Here it waited for the return coach from Liverpool.
1822 - Royal Wharfedale - York and Liverpool via Otley and Burley.
1822-1838 - Defiance - Ilkley and Leeds via Burley & Otley and Leeds.
1832 - Hark Forward - Leeds and Ilkley via Burley
1833 - 1834 - Commerce - Leeds and Ilkley via Burley
1835-1841 - British Queen - Leeds and Ilkley via Burley
1836 - Eclipse - Leeds and Ilkley via Burley
1842 - Union - Leeds and Ilkley via Otley and Burley
Omnibus
1824 - The first horse drawn omnibus service in the UK was started by John Greenwood between Pendleton and Manchester.
1833 - Steam powered "Enterprise" by Walter Hancock - 1st mechanically propelled vehicle specially designed for omnibus work.
1861 - 1896 Legislation forced pretty much all forms of mechanical power off the roads.
​Railway Companies
Role in bus company ownership & operation.
From the earliest days of the railways, the railway companies had initiated horse-drawn carriage services to act as feeders to their stations. Particularly ones where the railway station was some distance from the town it was intended to serve or there was more than one railway station serving a city or as a way to extend rail services into areas where constructing new lines would be too expensive.
Typical of this kind of service was that provided by the Leeds & Thirsk Railway in 1849. The L&T railway had departures at 8.15am & 11.00am from Leeds Central Station to Harrogate & beyond, these would stop at Pool(e)/Arthington in Wharfedale. From where an omnibus service to Otley & Burley would start on the arrival of each train. The omnibus service would have collected passengers for the train an hour or so before the arrival times.
From the earliest days of the railways, the railway companies had initiated horse-drawn carriage services to act as feeders to their stations. Particularly ones where the railway station was some distance from the town it was intended to serve or there was more than one railway station serving a city or as a way to extend rail services into areas where constructing new lines would be too expensive.
Typical of this kind of service was that provided by the Leeds & Thirsk Railway in 1849. The L&T railway had departures at 8.15am & 11.00am from Leeds Central Station to Harrogate & beyond, these would stop at Pool(e)/Arthington in Wharfedale. From where an omnibus service to Otley & Burley would start on the arrival of each train. The omnibus service would have collected passengers for the train an hour or so before the arrival times.
1903 Tramway Proposal that included Burley in Wharfedale.
Mid-Yorkshire Tramways Company, Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire. The system envisaged didn't come to fruition, but the Mid-Yorkshire Tramways Company established a couple of tramways in Shipley & used 10 tramcars for their service. In 1904 the Mid-Yorkshire Tramways Company were bought out by Bradford Corporation. |
Electric Trackless Trams or Trolleybuses
1911 to 1928
Bradford & Leeds Corporations inaugurated trackless tram services on the same day - 20th June 1911.
Both corporations used a system patented by the Railless Electric Traction Company subsequently called the R.E.T Corporation. This system was first tried on an experimental length of road at Hendon in September 1909.
The first service in Leeds ran from City Square along an existing tramway for about a mile, then was railless to New Farnley. A distance of about 4.75 miles. The trackless trams or trolley buses were less expensive to build & run than tramways.
The first two vehicles to run in Leeds were numbered 501 & 502. The car bodies were built by Hurst, Nelson and Co., & had a seating capacity of 28 people.
A second Leeds route was inaugurated on 9th September 1915 & ran from White Cross Tramshed at Guiseley to the Maypole in Otley.
A third route from White Cross to the Main Street & Station Road junction in Burley in Wharfedale quickly followed. This began on the 22nd October 1915.
A third route from White Cross to the Main Street & Station Road junction in Burley in Wharfedale quickly followed. This began on the 22nd October 1915.
Note the overhead wires on the above Bradford terminus loop image - this arrangement allowed the tram to turn round without disconnecting from the wires. A similar arrangement was installed at the junction of Station Road & Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale, at the Maypole in Otley & also at White Cross, Guiseley.
A panel from a fold out map and timetables issued by Leeds City Tramways and Transport Department in May 1927 and noting W Chamberlain as the General Manager.
The services advertised here are of interest in that they are possibly amongst the last mentions of them - the Leeds CT trolleybus services that were inaugurated in 1915 as feeder routes from the terminus of the long tramway at Guiseley down to both Otley and Burley in Wharfedale. Info & images courtesy of Mike Ashworth |
The trackless trams had been intended to continue to Ilkley from Burley in Wharfedale but this never happened. The reason was Ilkley UDC objected to it. Another route to Baildon Bridge from White Cross was also planned by Leeds Corporation. They obtained running powers in 1925, but this didn't happen. Likewise Bradford Corporation planned to extend its own trolleybuses from Baildon Bridge up Hollins Hill to White Cross. But both corporations shelved their plans as competition from motorbuses on the route would have made the services uneconomic. Trackless trams were withdrawn from Burley & Otley by Leeds Corporation in 1928, when motorbuses took over the routes.
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Char-a-banc or Charabanc
This translates as ‘Car with Benches’ - originally horse-drawn, used to transport large numbers of people and luggage from one location to another.
G. H. Mann and Co., Leeds.
Steam motor char-a-banc circular tours from Ilkley via Burley, Otley, Pool, Weston, Pannal, Humphrey Bank, Harrogate, Blubberhouses, Beamsley and Bolton Abbey. Seating capacity for 25 persons. [Image - Headline to an article in the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer 26th June 1908] |
Waite & Sons, Station Road, Burley in Wharfedale - established in 1885. Taxi & Bus Proprietors & Funeral Caterers.
By 1925, when Waite & Sons were advertised for sale as a going concern, the business consisted of two taxis, a motorbus, a motor hearse, a horse & hearse & a landau.
Bus Services
c1919 Harry Normington (1884-1946) - first recognised bus service in mid-Wharfedale.
Initiated a service between Otley & Ilkley via Burley in Wharfedale using x2 ex-army ambulances. Residing at 19 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale & trading as Normington & Co. Harry later established the Sandholme Garage on Bradford Road.
Initiated a service between Otley & Ilkley via Burley in Wharfedale using x2 ex-army ambulances. Residing at 19 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale & trading as Normington & Co. Harry later established the Sandholme Garage on Bradford Road.
Rathmell & Co
In 1920 Frederick A. Rathmell (1898-1973), a Burley in Wharfedale motor engineer bought a Humber Wagonette & applied to the Leeds Watch Committee for a licence to provide a bus service between Burley & Otley.
In 1921 he was joined by Arthur E. Sunley (1899-1985) another motor engineer from Burley in Wharfedale.
The business was based at Hopps Barn, Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale. |
Cream Bus Service
In 1922 the Cream Bus Service was established by Rathmell & Sunley. In the same year they were joined by Robert Peel and Harry Turner as co-partners.
They applied & received a licence from Ilkley Urban District Council to run a bus service to & from Burley & Ilkley. This was added to the licence to run a service from Burley to Otley.
They applied & received a licence from Ilkley Urban District Council to run a bus service to & from Burley & Ilkley. This was added to the licence to run a service from Burley to Otley.
1924 Cream Bus Service Limited was incorporated, the 4 partners all became directors. Robert Peel became managing director.
Cream Bus Service Limited leased the depot, from Warburton Brothers Garage on Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale.
Its the building that was constructed by the Warburtons around 1926, after the original workshops were burnt to the ground in 1922. Now the site of MCC Auto Centre. |
Jules-Sylvian Antichan (1879-1940)
Born in Plieux, Gers department, south west France on 19 March 1879. Died on 20 July 1940 in Verneuil sur Avre, Normandy.
Born in Plieux, Gers department, south west France on 19 March 1879. Died on 20 July 1940 in Verneuil sur Avre, Normandy.
Burley in Wharfedale Garage Company on North Parade. Initially a partnership between a Mr C. Bailey & Jules-Sylvain Antichan. (The premises are where Darnbrooks Coal Merchants are today (2021)). A haulage & removal contractor, ice merchant & general carrier covering Ilkley, Otley & Bradford triangle.
Jules Antichan lived with his partner Louise-Aimee Bailleul & their child Adrienne Bailleul, at 8 North Parade, Burley in Wharfedale.
Jules Antichan lived with his partner Louise-Aimee Bailleul & their child Adrienne Bailleul, at 8 North Parade, Burley in Wharfedale.
1924 August - applied to Ilkley Urban District Council for a licence to run a bus service from Burley to Ilkley.
1924 December - Bailey & Antichan partnership dissolved.
1925 January - Antichan applied to the Leeds Watch Committee for a licence to run a bus service from Ilkley via Burley in Wharfedale & Guiseley to Leeds.
1924 December - Bailey & Antichan partnership dissolved.
1925 January - Antichan applied to the Leeds Watch Committee for a licence to run a bus service from Ilkley via Burley in Wharfedale & Guiseley to Leeds.
1925 March - The service commenced using three Model T Fords, bought on Hire Purchase from William Annison Bull at Otley.
Became known as the "Red Regulars". Proved very popular at weekends with passengers from Leeds gaining access to the Moors. The towns of Horsforth, Yeadon, Guiseley, Menston & Burley were served by this service. The service was allowed to drop off passengers within Leeds Corporation's district, but not pickup, except in the very centre of Leeds.
The business expanded to 10 vehicles, x2 more Model T Fords & a variety of other vehicles.
1927 January - Samuel Ledgard bought the business & the route licences were transferred to the Cream Bus Service Limited. The CBS rented the garage premises on North Parade for the next 2 years.
Jules Antichan, his partner & their daughter remained at 8 North Parade, Burley in Wharfedale until c1929. Its believed they returned to France in c1934.
Route Licences & Bus Company takeovers
The main reason for buying up or taking over other bus companies, was to gain the route licences that gave access to other districts. As once a route licence had been allocated to the initial operator, the authorities - Watch Committees, town councils etc - were very reluctant to change the operator or allow competition on the same route. Competition was viewed by all (government, operators & general public) at the time, as a waste of resources.
The route licences also gave access & rights to standing-places. When standing-places were in the centre of towns these were formalised & came to be known as the "bus station".
The route licences also gave access & rights to standing-places. When standing-places were in the centre of towns these were formalised & came to be known as the "bus station".
Samuel Ledgard (1874-1952)
Bus business - 1912 to 1967 Established at Armley, Leeds
1925 August 1st - Samuel Ledgard bought the Cream Bus Service Limited & ran it as a separate business. Fred Rathmell stayed on as a mechanic, as well as Robert Peel as managing director.
1927 January 1st - Samuel Ledgard bought out Jules Antichan via the Cream Bus Sevice Limited. The Cream Bus Service paid off the HP agreements on the x5 vehicles they wanted to keep, bought the contents of the garage premises on North Parade, Burley in Wharfedale & also paid rent on them to Jules Antichan for the next two years.
(Jules Antichan, his partner & their daughter returned to France in c1934).
(Jules Antichan, his partner & their daughter returned to France in c1934).
1931 the Cream Bus Service operation was moved from the Warburtons Garage at Burley to the Otley depot.
Above image of a Leyland Titan PD1 with Leyland bodywork just leaving Burley for Ilkley. ARN 393 was new to Preston Corporation in 1947 and was bought by Samuel Ledgard in 1960. Info courtesy of Chris Youhill.
Note: In the 1930s Fred Rathmell applied for a licence to run a bus service from Otley to Newall. This too was later bought by Samuel Ledgard.
From 1931 onwards, with no garaging facilities or depots, places in Burley District became just another bus stop on a number of different routes for a number of different operators.
Origin of the district & Yorkshire wide bus services
(History of) Harrogate Road Car Company Ltd. (Nov 1906 to 1924)
As Samuel Ledgard had done in Burley in Wharfedale, to expand operations the simplest way to do it, was by buying up other bus companies & taking over the licences for their routes.
1924 Tilling & British Automobile Traction group (T&BAT) bought out the Harrogate Road Car Company Ltd. and changed its name to the Harrogate & District Road Car Company.
(British Automobile Traction was a subsidiary company of British Electric Traction Co. Ltd. BET - 1895-1996).
(British Automobile Traction was a subsidiary company of British Electric Traction Co. Ltd. BET - 1895-1996).
The Harrogate & District Car Company Ltd. ran a Karrier bus between Harrogate, Pool and Otley which began on 7th May 1924 but was not extended to Ilkley via Burley until 15 December 1924. The fare to Otley was 2d. The bus had two wooden bench seats.
From 1924 to 1927 T&BAT continued to buy up bus companies in West Yorkshire.
Hence in 1927 the Harrogate name disappeared & it now became West Yorkshire Road Car Co. Ltd., headquartered in Harrogate.
WT6879 built 1924, absorbed by the newly-formed West Yorkshire Road Car Company on 1st Jan 1928. It's a Tilling-Stevens TS6 with bodywork by Tilling. Info & image (copyright unknown) courtesy of John Palmer Collection.
When there were no more independent bus companies to buy, the only alternative to expanding bus operations was to make deals with town & city corporations who owned & ran bus services in their areas.
1932 A T&BAT joint company was established with Keighley Corporation, creating Keighley-West Yorkshire
1934 Joint arrangements, but not a joint company was made with York City Council, creating York-West Yorkshire.
1942 Tilling and British Automobile Traction group wound up. The companies in T&BAT were split between Thomas Tilling and BET.
1947/48 Nationalisation.
1948 - 1962 British Transport Commission acquired the bus services of Thomas Tilling, Scottish Motor Traction and the large independent Red & White. Hence West Yorkshire Road Car Company (WYRCC) became a state owned company.
1962 the BTC's bus companies were transferred to the Transport Holding Company. Then in 1968 BET sold its UK bus companies to the Transport Holding Company. Almost all of the UK bus industry was by then owned by the government or by municipalities.
1967 - Samuel Ledgard's bought by West Yorkshire Road Car Company
1968 - Transport Act transferred the English and Welsh bus companies of the Transport Holding Company to the new National Bus Company. Creation of Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs).
1969 - 1988 National Bus Company - NBC did not run buses itself, but was the owner of a number of regional subsidiary bus operating companies.
1974 - 2014 West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (Metro)
1980s Deregulation & privatisation
1985 - Transport Act all bus services apart from those in London and Northern Ireland were deregulated.
1948 - 1962 British Transport Commission acquired the bus services of Thomas Tilling, Scottish Motor Traction and the large independent Red & White. Hence West Yorkshire Road Car Company (WYRCC) became a state owned company.
1962 the BTC's bus companies were transferred to the Transport Holding Company. Then in 1968 BET sold its UK bus companies to the Transport Holding Company. Almost all of the UK bus industry was by then owned by the government or by municipalities.
1967 - Samuel Ledgard's bought by West Yorkshire Road Car Company
1968 - Transport Act transferred the English and Welsh bus companies of the Transport Holding Company to the new National Bus Company. Creation of Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs).
1969 - 1988 National Bus Company - NBC did not run buses itself, but was the owner of a number of regional subsidiary bus operating companies.
1974 - 2014 West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (Metro)
1980s Deregulation & privatisation
1985 - Transport Act all bus services apart from those in London and Northern Ireland were deregulated.
1986 - West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive set up the new company of Yorkshire Rider. This new company tendered for all the former PTE services, operational depots and most of the bus fleet.
1988 - Privatisation of the National Bus Company, West Yorkshire was sold in a management buyout to the AJS Group.
1989 - Yorkshire Rider purchased the West Yorkshire Road Car Co.
1991 - West Yorkshire was split into smaller companies: Harrogate & District, Keighley & District and Yorkshire Coastliner. All were sold to Blazefield Holdings.
1988 - Privatisation of the National Bus Company, West Yorkshire was sold in a management buyout to the AJS Group.
1989 - Yorkshire Rider purchased the West Yorkshire Road Car Co.
1991 - West Yorkshire was split into smaller companies: Harrogate & District, Keighley & District and Yorkshire Coastliner. All were sold to Blazefield Holdings.
1995 - Badgerline merges with GRT Group forms the First Group, the services being renamed Bradford Traveller.
2006 - Blazefield Group was sold to Transdev.
2006 - Blazefield Group was sold to Transdev.
2014 - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Bus services & routes in Burley District
1920s - pre-numbered services
1922-1924 Guiseley and Ilkley via Burley. Sarah Buttery.
Ilkley and Otley via Burley. Rathmell & Co (Cream Bus Service Ltd (Samuel Ledgard)).
Ilkley and Leeds via Burley & Guiseley. Jules Antichan (Cream Bus Service Ltd).
Ilkley and Otley via Burley. Rathmell & Co (Cream Bus Service Ltd (Samuel Ledgard)).
Ilkley and Leeds via Burley & Guiseley. Jules Antichan (Cream Bus Service Ltd).
1924 Harrogate - Pool - Otley - Burley - Ilkley (Harrogate Road Car Company Ltd).
1930s - pre-numbered services
Bradford and Ilkley via Manningham Lane, Shipley & Burley. West Yorkshire Road Car Company (WYRCC)
Ilkley and Otley via Ben Rhydding & Burley. WYRCC
Ilkley to Harrogate via Ben Rhydding, Burley & Otley. WYRCC
Unknown service - Burley included. WYRCC
Edna May Smith (Stephen Molinari's maternal grandmother) of Addingham working as a conductress on Ilkley buses. Year unknown.
The bus is a 1930 Tilling-Stevens B108A2 Chassis on a Roe B30F Body, of the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. Photo taken at the terminus in Lower Brook Street, Ilkley. Info courtesy of John Wheatley.
The bus is a 1930 Tilling-Stevens B108A2 Chassis on a Roe B30F Body, of the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. Photo taken at the terminus in Lower Brook Street, Ilkley. Info courtesy of John Wheatley.
1930s to 1950s
63 Ilkley and Bradford via Burley, Shipley & Manningham Lane. WYRCC
Vehicle above built in 1937, all vehicles of same type withdrawn by 1957. Info & image (copyright unknown) courtesy of Andrew Lockwood Collection.
1960s
34 & 77 Ilkley and Leeds via Burley, Otley & Bramhope. WYRCC jointly with Samuel Ledgard
63 Ben Rhydding (Beanlands Corner) - Ilkley - Burley - Guiseley - Shipley - via Manningham Lane to Bradford Chester St Bus Station. WYRCC
63a Ilkley - Burley - Guiseley - Bradford via Canal Road & Forster Square (no Sunday service). WYRCC
63b Bolton Abbey - Ilkley - Burley - Bradford. Saturday & Sunday service only. Operated from 1st Sunday in July until the last Saturday in September. WYRCC
63 Ben Rhydding (Beanlands Corner) - Ilkley - Burley - Guiseley - Shipley - via Manningham Lane to Bradford Chester St Bus Station. WYRCC
63a Ilkley - Burley - Guiseley - Bradford via Canal Road & Forster Square (no Sunday service). WYRCC
63b Bolton Abbey - Ilkley - Burley - Bradford. Saturday & Sunday service only. Operated from 1st Sunday in July until the last Saturday in September. WYRCC
68 Ilkley and Bradford via Burley & Canal Road. WYRCC
76 Skipton and Tadcaster via Ilkley, Burley in Wharfedale, Harrogate & Wetherby. WYRCC
76 Skipton and Tadcaster via Ilkley, Burley in Wharfedale, Harrogate & Wetherby. WYRCC
Express Coach Services (info from 1966 WYRCC Timetable - The Bus Archive - indexed by Ken Holway).
No service number: Skipton - Ilkley - Burley - Bridlington. Saturdays only 28th May to 17th September.
X15 Blackpool - Burley - Scarborough. Jointly operated by West Yorkshire RCC Ltd & Ribble Motor Services Ltd. Summer service, Saturdays only, 28th May to 24th September.
J9 Leeds - Burley - Ilkley - Skipton - Blackpool. Operated from May to October - Daily Service.
X15 Blackpool - Burley - Scarborough. Jointly operated by West Yorkshire RCC Ltd & Ribble Motor Services Ltd. Summer service, Saturdays only, 28th May to 24th September.
J9 Leeds - Burley - Ilkley - Skipton - Blackpool. Operated from May to October - Daily Service.
1970s National Bus Company - info required
1980
650/651 Bradford and Ilkley via Canal Road, Shipley & Burley
650/651 Bradford and Ilkley via Canal Road, Shipley & Burley
656 Scalebor Park Hospital visitor service
732/733 Leeds and Ilkley via Guiseley & Burley
775/776/777 Harrogate and Ilkley via Otley & Burley
782/783 Leeds and Ilkley via Bramhope, Otley & Burley
783/784 Leeds and Skipton via Bramhope, Otley, Burley & Ilkley
X83 Leeds and Addingham via Otley, Burley & Ilkley (Limited stop)
775/776/777 Harrogate and Ilkley via Otley & Burley
782/783 Leeds and Ilkley via Bramhope, Otley & Burley
783/784 Leeds and Skipton via Bramhope, Otley, Burley & Ilkley
X83 Leeds and Addingham via Otley, Burley & Ilkley (Limited stop)
Late 1980's and early 1990's
W5 Otley and Ilkley via Burley in Wharfedale. Rhodes Coaches, Lakeside Garage, Yeadon
W5 Otley and Ilkley via Burley in Wharfedale. Rhodes Coaches, Lakeside Garage, Yeadon
1989/90 Yorkshire Rider takeover of WYRCC
650 Bradford and Ilkley via Guiseley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
651 Bradford and Ilkley via Guiseley, Otley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
652 Bradford and Ilkley via Guiseley, Otley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
1990
739 service Gold Rider. Leeds to Ilkley via White Cross, Guiseley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
650 Bradford and Ilkley via Guiseley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
651 Bradford and Ilkley via Guiseley, Otley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
652 Bradford and Ilkley via Guiseley, Otley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
1990
739 service Gold Rider. Leeds to Ilkley via White Cross, Guiseley & Burley in Wharfedale. Yorkshire Rider
On the first day of take over from WYRCC, Yorkshire Rider Leeds 5505 B145RWY 1st April 1990 Burley in Wharfedale.
Info & image courtesy of Tony Behan.
Info & image courtesy of Tony Behan.
733 Leeds and Ilkley via Guiseley & Burley
1995 First Group services
1999 W5 - Otley - Menston - Burley - Ilkley
2000s info required
2019 services
62 Keighley and Leeds Bradford Airport via Burley. The Keighley Bus Company
962 Otley and Ilkley via Burley. The Keighley Bus Company
962 Otley and Ilkley via Burley. The Keighley Bus Company
X52 Harrogate and Ilkley via Otley & Burley. Connexions Buses
X84 Leeds and Skipton via Otley & Burley. First Leeds
X84 Leeds and Skipton via Otley & Burley. First Leeds
Burley Community Library & Burley Archive, Grange Road, Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire England LS29 7HD
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