A W BERRY & SONS LTD
The Berry's had been operating a horse bus bwetween Colchester and West Mersea since 1888. They purchased the first public motor conveyence in the area and placed a Damiler motor wagonette in service. One scource states this was in 1899 while another records that on Christmas Eve 1904 a a 10 seat Daimler first ran between Colchester and West Mersea when takings for the day amounted to 1/6 (7½p). The company operated from the company's engineering works in Port Lane, Colchester and from the owners bungalow at West Mersea, the garden of which over the years became a home as he used vehicles withdrawn from service for outbuildings and chicken houses. Venture Bus of Brightlingsea a one vehicle operation was acquired during the 1920's.
As well as bus services from Colchester to Brightlingsea and West Mersea and from Brightlingsea to Thorpe-le Soken market and Tendring Hospital excursions ran from Colchester, Brightlingsea, Thorrington Cross, Alresford, Elmstead and West Mersea. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays express coach services operated from Brightlingsea and West Mersea to London but with the advent of licencing in 1931 the Traffic Commisioners refused an application for these to continue operating.
The company had an office at Scheregate which served as booking office, parcel depot and inspectors room. Livery in later years was Brown.
Daimler, Humber, Fiat, Staker-Squire, ex LGOC AEC 'B' types, Weigal, Vulcan, REO and Wells could all be seen operating in the company's early years
Competition on the road between West Mersea and Colchester was fierce with as well as Underwood's and Primrose at various times with Bluebird, Day, Great Eastern Railway, Griffin Bus Service and Reliance Coaches also operating services.Major Harden , owner of Griffin paid his men 3d in the £ commission which rsulted inhis buses racing the opposition. On one occassion a bus was forced into the mud at the Strood.
As well as passengers buses carried a variety of goods. The 8.15am to Brightinglingsea and 8.20am to West Mersea called in at Weddell's cold meat store to pick up lamb an beef for delivery en route at a rate of 6d and 1/- per carcase. Trays of cakes and baskets of bread were collected from the Co-op bakery in Kendal Road. On weekedays the final journey's from Brightlingsea and West Mersea mail bags were padlocked to the bus by a postman and removed on arrival in Colchester. A fee of 1/- per bag was charged. In additional each bus had a post box that enabled local residents to catch the last post from Colchester.
Services taken over by Eastern National
Colchester - Rowhedge - West Mersea EN75D
Colchester - Abberton - West Mersea EN75C
Colchester - Rowhedge - Fingringhoe EN77A
Colchester - Alresford - Brightlingsea EN78
Vehicles taken over by Eastern National
|
Reg No |
Chassis |
Body |
Layout |
EN Fleet No. |
|
ANO 132 |
Dennis Lancet |
Duple |
B36 |
3694 |
|
APP 272 |
Dennis Lancet |
Dennis |
B32 |
3695 |
|
HX 4358 |
AEC Regal |
Park Royal |
32 |
3696 |
|
DPU 73 |
Bedford WTB |
Duple |
C26R |
3697 |
|
CEV 394 |
Bedford WTL |
Motts |
C25F |
3698 |
|
CNO 740 |
TSM B39A7 |
Duple |
C36F |
3699 |
|
ALW 678 |
Commer Centaur | |
20 |
3700 |
|
VX 7875 |
Gilford 1680T | |
C31 |
3701 |
|
VX 4333 |
Gilford 1660T |
Duple |
B32 |
3702 |
|
VW 7087 |
Dennis G | |
B18 |
3703 |
|
UF 3067 |
TSM B10A2 |
Short |
B32R |
3704 |
|
EV 8316 |
Morris RP | |
C20 |
3705 |
Time and Fare Table - date unknown - 576kb file.
Eastern National Time Table on takeover - 631kb file.
Photos
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