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The dozen or so local carriers fulfilled a vital role in the community, providing a link with adjacent towns and villages in the days before any 'public' transport.
They included:
William Harry Giles:
William Harry Giles provided carriage to Newbury three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) from 1903. A photograph in the Photo Galley shows WH Giles showing off their new Daimler coach outside Stradling & Plenty, c.1918. On the left is Harry's father.Hary is standing, and Percy (Harry's brother) is in the driving seat. It is thought that Stradling's had converted the vehicle from an ex WWI vehicle, and that this photograph was taken on "hand-over" day.
Photo Gallery:
- Harry Giles, the Carrier, c1910. Harry is holding the whip. Seated with him is ?Bob Newhook. Holding the horse is Percy Giles, Harry's brother.
- W. H. Giles showing off the new Daimler coach outside Stradling & Plenty, c.1918. On the left is Harry's father. Harry is standing, and Percy (Harry's brother) is in the driving seat. It is thought that Stradling's had converted the vehicle from an ex WWI vehicle, and that this photograph was taken on "hand-over" day.
Other Carriers:
I am grateful to Dr David Cave for the following additional information on carriers:
John Grainger:
Pigot's Directory of 1844 lists the following routes by John Grainger "from his warehouse in Bridge Street":
- To Newbury: Mon, Thurs, Sat mornings, and Sun forenoon.
- To Maidenhead: Sundays.
- To Reading: Sun evening.
Kelly's Directory of 1848 adds the following service "from his own house in the High Street":
- To London by railway: Tue, Fri, returning the next day via Reading.
Mrs Amelia Gibbs:
Kelly's Directory of 1848 has the following service "from her own house in Church Lane":
- To Marlborough: Tue, Thu and Sat - returning the same day.
John Pounds:
Kelly's Directory of 1848 has the following service "from his own house in the High Street":
- To Newbury: Daily (Fri and Sun excepted).
From outside the town:
Kelly's Directory of 1848 has the following services into Hungerford from outside the town:
- Benjamin Jones, from The White Hart Lambourn: Wed
- Machin’s van, from the Sun,London: Wed, Fri, return Tue, Thur.
- Mrs. Hoile & Mrs. Wheeler, from the White Hart Marlborough Fri return next day on way to Newbury.
- David Fruin from Lancaster Arms, Newbury: Thu.
- Giles, from the Sun, Newbury: Tue, Thu, returns same night via Ramsbury.
- Thomas Lilliard, from the Sun, Newbury: Tue, Thu, returns same night via Aldbourne.
- Mrs Hall, from the White Hart, Swindon: Tue returns the next day to Cewer via Newbury, Reading, Maidenhead.
Water Conveyance:
Kelly's Directory of 1848 lists the following services conveying water:
- Joseph Neale (agent); Canal Company’s Wharf to Bristol to Reading three times a week (using Charles Parker’s barges).
- Joseph Neale (agent): The Wharf to London and Bristol daily (using Thomas Shaw & Co.’s barges).
- William Barnes (agent): High Street Kennet & Avon Co.
Slater’s Directory of Berkshire 1852:
- John Price, from the Railway Station, Burbage: Tue, Thu and Sat.
- John Price, from the Railway Station, Great Bedwyn: Tue, Thu and Sat.
- John Price, from the Railway Station, Lavington: Tue, Thu and Sat.
- John May, from the Railway Station, Marlborough: Daily.
- George Gibbs, from his house, High Street, Marlborough: Tue, Thu and Sat.
- George Pounds, from his house, High Street, Marlborough: Tue and Sat.
- John Pounds, from his house, Church Lane, Newbury: Mon, Thu and Sat.
- George Pounds, High Street, Newbury: Mon and Thu.
- John Price, from the Railway Station, Pewsey: Tue, Thu and Sat.
Water Conveyance:
Kennet & Avon Canal Co. Barges: to London, Bath and Bristol Daily.
Macaulay's Berkshire Directory, 1853:
- To Aldbourne: Smith, from the Barley Mow, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- To Bath: The Star Coach, from The Bear, every afternoon at 1.15pm via Marlborough and Devises.
- To Bedwyn: David, from the Duke of Lancaster Arms, Wednesdays.
- To Burbage: John Price, from the Railway station, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Also to Great Bedwyn, Lavington and Pewsey.
- To London: By the Berks & Hants Branch of the GWR from the Railway station.
- To London: Kennet & Avon Canal barges, also Bath and Bristol.
- To Marlborough: The Optimus, from The Bear, daily.
- To Newbury: John Pounds, Church Lane, Monday, Thursdays and Saturdays.
P.O. Berks, Northants 1854
- William Spanswick from his home in Eddington to The Bear and Castle, Marlborough: Tue, Thu and Sat. Return the same day.
- Sarah Pounds from her home in Church Lane, to the Castle Tap, Newbury: Daily (Fri and Sun excepted)
- David Frain, from the Lancaster Arms (van from the Railway Station) to Lavington, Bedwyn, Burbridge and Pewsey: Tue, Thu and Sat at 20 mins past 1.00pm. Return Mon, Wed and Fri. about 2.00pm.
- Giles from The Sun to Newbury: Tue and Thu. Return same night via Ramsbury.
- Thomas Lilliard from The Sun to Newbury: Tue and Thu. Returns same night via Aldbourne.
- Mrs. Rolfe & Mrs. Wheeler from The White Hart to Marlborough: Fri. Returns next day on way to Newbury.
- Mrs. Hall from The Lancaster Arms to Swindon: Tue. Returns next day to Clewer through Newbury, Reading and Maidenhead.
- Henry Davis from Lancaster Arms to Wilton: Wed.
Water Conveyance
- John Beard via barges to Bath: Twice weekly.
- Daniel Phipps via barges: Reading to Bristol
Harrod & Co. Beds, Bucks 1876
(It is not yet known if these served Hungerford)
- Smith - to Aldbourne: Wed and Sun.
- Barrett - to Aldbourne: Wed and Sat.
- Haines - to Aldbourne: Daily.
- Newport - to Bedwyn and Wilton: Wed and Fri.
- Brusdan - to Fosbury and Shalbourne: Wed and Sat.
- Brusdan - to Froxfield: Mon, Fri and Sat, Arrives at 12.00; Leaves at 2.00.
- Trains daily by Berks and Hants Extension Railway; the Canal Company’s and Gerrish, Sainsbury & Co’s barges from Hungerford Wharf twice weekly.
Kelly Directory, Berks. 1899:
- Samuel Hawkes (agent), Hairdresser and photographer, Sutton & Co, parcel carriers.
Kelly Directory, Berks. 1915:
- Martin - to Aldbourne: Daily.
- Walter Humphries - to Fosbury: Wed and Sat.
- Frederick Bevis - to Grafton and Wilton: Wed and Sat.
- Thomas Bowley - to Ham: Wed and Sat.
- William Rolfe - to Inkpen: Wed and Sat.
- William Buxcey - to Marlborough: Wed and Sat.
- William Giles - to Newbury: Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat.
- William Buxcey - to Newbury: Thu.
- Richard Chamberlain - to Ramsbury: Daily.
- Alfred Levy - to Shalbourne: Wed and Sat.
- Edward Shuff - to Shefford Wooldands: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri and Sat.
- Sidney Chandler - to Vernham: Wed.
- Samuel Hawkins (agent) for Sutton & Co. High Street.
Water Conveyance
- John Holmes Woodridge (agent) for Kennet and Avon Canal Great Western Railway,
(With thanks to Dr David Cave.)