The following is an extract from the slideshow talks previously held by the late Glynn Jones. This is the second batch of slides scanned from approx 600 from his collection. We are extremely grateful to Glynn Jones’s daughter for donating these to our collection. All captions are from Glynn’s original notes which accompanied the slide collection.
In 1912 the tramway company extended operation by opening a bus service from Brook Street to the “Prince of Wales” pub in Coedpoeth (later known as the Red Lion).They used a single deck Daimler painted the same colour as the trams, Red and Cream. They then changed the company name to “Wrexham & District Transport Co Ltd”. But in 1914 all the buses were requisitioned for the war effort.
A Daimler at Wrexham Depot in 1920, owned by the tram company. Reg LO8018.“Wrexham & District Electric Tramways Ltd” solid tyre Daimler outside the Central Station. Note the tramways emblem on the side “The Magnet & Wheel”.This Daimler is outside the “Wheatsheaf Inn” in Gwersyllt. Reg no CA 976 which is a Denbighshire registration.This bus is outside the old library, Wrexham in 1928. Reg No: FM 614 (Chester). To the left is Mr. A.A. Hawkins the General Manager.Around 1919/20 several small bus companies were springing up, even the G.W.R. (Railway Co) started to run a bus service, the tram service started to suffer from this. This bus is pictured at Farndon, outside the “Raven Inn”.
One story attached to the G.W.R. buses regards advertising, all the trams carried adverts and the buses done the same, but, they carried adverts for whisky & gin which the chapels took offence to and urged their members to boycott the buses and use the trams instead, most of the miners obeyed this, which illustrates the power the chapels once had.
Most of the small bus companies started with horse-drawn charabancs and then motor chara’s, most of these were Daimler. This one is dated 1932 with a speed limit of 12mph and on an outing to Southport.This charabanc was owned by Johnson Brothers, Southsea, known as the “Silver Star” with a top speed of 12mph. The owner driver & his wife are seated next to the back row, Richard & Maggie Johnson.This fine looking vehicle was pictured in 1918 outside the “Hollybush” pub in Cefn, it may have been a booze trip, with its own “send off committee”. Note that each row of seats has its own doors.One of the smaller buses outside the “Glynn Cinema” in Queen’s Square in 1920. Queen’s Square was a terminus for several buses before King Street.
These are some of the smaller bus companies which existed from the 1920s.
This is one of M.A. Evans buses, a Bedford OB. The bus to the left in the Rhos stand is likely to be a T. Williams bus. Hanmer’s cafe can be seen in the background. M.A. Evans was formed in 1919 and ran to Rhosnesni & Maes-y-dre, the buses were garaged in Chapel Street, PenybrynPhillips of Rhostyllen, JAB352 a half-cab similar to the ones used by Crosville. Phillips originally ran a service from Brook Street to Rhos and garaged their buses at Rhostyllen.This is one of T. Williams buses parked at King Street. Its a Crossley Half-cab Reg No: MLF 348.This is a Meredith & Jesson bus, an old Commer Avenger coach with Denbighshire registration, UN 5382. This service ran to Cefn Pictured on the left is Mr. Meredith’s son.Again a Meredith & Jesson bus in King Street, this one is a “Dennis”. The original King’s Cafe is behind the coach, also Chas Eames and the G.P.O buildings. Reg No: GDM 223.There were many of these small bus companies in the area, this small fleet belonged to Robert Edwin Guy, Quarry Road, Brynteg, he ran services to Wrexham from the Brynteg area.There were many more of these bus companies, many of which were swallowed up by Crosville later on.
Source of slides and text (late) Glynn Jones. Copyright remains with the original photographer.
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