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Mr 'Bink' Evans delivering milk
Heathcote carriage & omnibus business
Portland Square 1890-1900
Carriers Carting First Passengers
Commonly found for starting recognised inland passenger services was the 1909 example of UK Carrier Cart Carrier Carts. It may be fairly assumed these services evolved among growing British populations, as more people perhaps attempted hitching or hiring occasional lifts among existing business traffic. There was also dangers involved if walking through these forested areas, although reports of highway robbers suggests they targeted wealthier carriages and stagecoaches.
Shop traders joined existing farmers making more frequent journeys between the larger market towns. Following usual routes some would have realised additional, then even alternative profits could be made just offering passenger rides. Professionally turning attention towards passenger comfort, they started invitingly replacing basic open carts with specially built carrier models. This 1909 UK postcard shows a typical example of later vehicle refinements affording cosier sprung, weather protected seating.
By the time a Sutton post office began running daily mail connections into Mansfield and Nottingham, it was possible from there to extend national journeys by faster stage coaches. Connections between London and Scottish borders did take several days along the best laid routes, bettered only by lighter faster coaches delivering Royal Mail that claimed greatest priority for right of way along all highways.
Established drivers operating regular Sutton Carrier Cart services
1832 Thomas Wilson Low Street Nottingham Wed + Sat
" " Thomas Bullock Back Lane Nottingham Wed + Sat
1838 The Mail-Gig Nottingham Daily
" " Thomas Wilson Brick & Tile Mansfield Wed + Sat
" " J Weston White Lion Alfreton-Derby Fri Morn
" " Dennis Whetton Alfreton-Derby Daily
" " J Jephson Swan Inn Nottingham Mon Wed Sat
" " Sam Bailey Black Bull Nottingham Wed + Sat
1844 Thomas Wilson Brick & Tile Nottingham Wed + Sat
" " Sam Bailey New Road Nottingham Mon + Wed
" " Daniel Fletcher Low Street Nottingham
" " Dennis Whetton Low Street Mansfield Daily + Mail
" " J Western White Lion Alfreton& Derby Fridays
" " Mrs Kemp & Smith Blue Bell Alfreton & Derby Thursdays
1853 Michael Heathcote Low Street Nottingham Wed Fri Sat
Ref:- History of Sutton-in-Ashfield by GG Bonsor 1851-1947 noted that William Wilson challenged new competition by painting on his van
Better late then never. Heathcote retaliated showing Better, never late!
Slogans from which both services became commonly identified.
Listing identifies our earliest known local carriers from the adjacent town, adding frequent passenger trips possibly via Huthwaite when heading into Derby. Adjacent areas just over Nottinghamshire borders like Blackwell and Pinxton once shared manor tied support from Mansfield, and Huthwaites first postal distribution was claimed by foot from Alfreton.
Dated records imply carriers were well established prior earliest years found, but do reveal how services expand inline with population growth. A parish Census dated 1801 reveals Sutton had quickly acquired 2800 residents after opening large textile factories. Estimating 500 populated Hucknall Huthwaite, our relational growth similarly follows that industrious 19th century. A final influx invited by 1500 jobs at New Hucknall pit built a flourishing mining community. Nevertheless, Huthwaite was already separately emerging among commercial directory entries, helping collate my next unique list through time with our very own village carriers.
