Top Question - Everingham Brothers Pocklington

Everingham Brothers Pocklington

The other day I was remembering Everingham Brothers, the independent operator based in Pocklington, who were taken over by East Yorkshire in about 1953. I only travelled on one of their vehicles once, from Pocklington to the small village of Millington in the East Riding, on a Saturday when a school friend and I visited his grandfather. The vehicle was a Bedford OWB painted in uniform battleship grey. Surely that wasn't their standard livery? One of your readers must recall the Everingham Brothers livery; could you pleases post a request for information on your site?

Roy Burke

Yes Roy, the overall grey you recall was indeed the standard livery of the firm. A matter of opinion I admit, but I always rather liked it and thought that it was dignified. EB was a quality firm of the highest order and when they sold out to EYMS the vehicles received that operator's well loved and legendary indigo blue and rich cream colours. A good few of EB's newer coaches then broadened their horizons considerably by being employed on long distance regular coach services. A pleasing feature was the retention by East Yorkshire of the small illuminated (I think) "EB" alongside the destination blinds. Its always sad when well liked and commendable operators are taken over, but there could be no better new owner than the splendid East Yorkshire Motor Services.

Chris Youhill

Thanks, Chris for your helpful reply; I was just glad that my memory wasn't showing signs of senility. East Yorkshire did retain the 'EB' box on the coach indicators, simply changing it to 'EY'. I don't know much about Everingham Brothers, but I did work with an ex-EB driver, (a really charming old chap called Sid Lovel - that's spelt correctly; he quoted his dad as saying 'One "L" at the end of anything is enough'), who simply couldn't stomach working for East Yorkshire and so went to York-West Yorkshire. I leave it to others to decide whether that was an improvement!

Roy Burke

Well Roy, in my personal opinion I think your pal Sid Lovel drew the short straw there, and would have been far better staying with EYMS. A further fascinating aspect has just occurred to me - the two EB AEC Regal Mk 4 coaches (C37C) were immediately upon acquisition up-seated to C41C. I think its a pretty safe bet that they were the only coaches with Barnaby centre entrance bodies (most handsome) to grace the long distance coach services of the land, and would have raised an interested eyebrow or two in Victoria Coach Station. 661/2 remained in service with EYMS until 1965 before ending their careers with Miller of Wakefield, a contractor - most undignified for such fine machines.

Chris Youhill

If you are interested, the EYMS website: here contains black and white photos of all buses taken over by EYMS. Just click on the 'withdrawn' at the top of the fleetlist.

Keith Easton

Apart from hearing the name, I have never seen any details about this company. I've looked on the EYMS website as recommended by Keith Easton but there's a heck of a lot of photos to go through! From this, however, I got the impression that they were quite a substantial operator. Are there any fleet details anywhere or list of services operated?

Chris Barker

Re Chris Barker's enquiry about Everingham Brothers of Pocklington: there is a site 'Pocklingtonhistory.com' which contains a short history of Everingham Brothers, which Chris may find interesting. In fact, the brothers are mentioned in another short article on that site, too.
There used to be a site 'Hullbuses.web' which had a very large collection of EYMS vehicles, including several Everingham vehicles that were taken over, (recognisable by their East Riding rather than Hull CBC registration numbers), with two or three pictures of coaches which had had the 'EB' in the destination indicators changed to 'EY'. Unfortunately, the site seems to have closed down, although someone may know whether the photos are still available anywhere on the Internet. Hope this helps, Chris.

Roy Burke

From the late 60s on, I met and interviewed EB staff amongst many others from the East Riding area. An Ex-EB Inspector Harold Houseley told me that there were three variations of EBs Colours The Grey mentioned by Chris is correct in the later years. In the 20s some Luxury Barnaby Bodied coaches had White roofing White window frames White Drivers' Cabs. Below this was a "Steel Blue" band around the bodywork sometimes including the Bonnet top. Smaller Saloons often had a pale grey bonnet and sides.The bodywork below the Blue Band was light Grey with a circular Garter Logo in blue with the "EB" initials inside The Garter lettering reads Everingham Bros Pocklington Yks - The Livery of the later fleet became Overall Grey Roof and Body sides, White window frames Blue Banding colour was continues in a 'flared' effect between the aluminium strip on Regals. The very early Livery 1919-1926 Appears to be overall light grey with the Garter applied, some Thornycrofts had a black or very Dark roof colour. The Grey scheme may have been the result of covering WD grey or simply a cost factor. Bodies were Demountable in the early days as Haulage for the local Brewery was a contract using some ex WD chassis. Well the Chassis numbers reflect production for 1915 plus. For more EB info Read my column on the Pocklington History Website plus pictures from my collection. The Everingham Boys were also Motorcycle fans they had a shop with bikes like Phelon and Moore a Cleckheaton Product.

Ian Gibbs

Most interesting Ian and Roy. I believe that the Cleckheaton Motor Bikes were the famous "PANTHER." There is a splendid display about the factory and the motorbikes in The Red House Museum at Gomersal.

Chris Youhill

Seeing all these posts on Everingham Bros. reminds me they had plenty of Barnaby bodies. Where were these built? Also, the superb EYMS "withdrawn" photos show plenty of White Bus, and Williamson views in Brid. Well worth the visit. From this I see that EB had 2 OWBs with JUA registrations. Any connection to Ledgard?

John Whitaker

In answer to John's question, Barnaby bodies were I believe built in Hull and very fine products they were too. The two OWBs with JUA 647/8 numbers definitely had no connection with Samuel Ledgard but there is the most incredible coincidence here - one of those fascinating little things which fascinate enthusiasts - Ledgard had two Daimler CWA6/Duple double deckers registered JUB 647/8. As the two Everingham OWBs had Roe bodies it is almost certain that they were registered by the bodybuilder prior to allocation.

Chris Youhill

John Whittaker enquiry; where were Barnabys located. The Factory was in Hull their first site was 6 and 6a Neptune Street, though 6a was actually living quarters. Began 1872 where Ben Barnaby set up his workshop as Blacksmith. Eventually two sons joined him as Blacksmith and Wheelwright both important parts of their trade in horse vehicle days. Neptune Street was near the Docks so it was easy to have timber brought to his yard. When motors came in they began turning car chassis into Vans for local traders. This led to requests for lorry chassis to be provided with flatbed and passenger bodies so that haulage and psv work would be carried out using one vehicle. (cutting down on tax costs)Quality was Barnaby's watchword while at the same time they bore in mind value for money they would build according to the size of a customers pocket, one reason we find many Bus-body coming from South Yorks Colliery areas. As their name spread a separate Paintshop was provided. In the 1920s the whole of Neptune Street was roofed over and extended from what had been an open yard with outbuiding. Gradual expansion took place on two more sites close to Neptune Street. Provision of Charabanc and Saloon Bus Bodies began to equal the output for Trade bodies. Contracts with major firms became bread and butter of the firm. Companies such as Needlers' Chocolates with a large fleet. Eventually Everingham Brothers became a fleet customer so that when new bodies were completed other buses would be in the Paint Shop being spruced up. The next time you the reader has chance to Board JVY 516 the AEC Regal, Ex York Pullman (preserved) stand in the saloon and look above at the strips of timber with alternating varnish finishes and the light fittings then you will see the quality of a Master of his trade. There is a short history of Barnabys Motor Bodies (Hull) Ltd in two past editions of Vintage Roadscene vol7 27/28. Also if you are interested in Classic Hearses there is a piece on the Barnaby collaboration with Cecil Kemp of Sheerline Cars into Hearses. (type "CHR" for Classic Hearse Register into a search engine) there should be a link on their website re Barnabys. Some of the firms with Barnaby Bus and Coach Bodies were; B&S MS Featherstone, Cosy Car Service York, Everingham Bros Pocklington, Gofton & Lord Scarborough, Elizabeth Fussey Cottingham, Edward Sheriff York, Jackson Bros Aldborough, Morpus t/a Rossie Motors, B&E Doncaster, Felix Motors, York Pullman Bus Co, Booth & Fisher Rotherham, Midgeley Leeds, GF Tate Leeds, J Cowgill Lothersdale, T Severn & Sons, R Store Doncaster, J France Market Weighton, R Laycock Lothersdale (rebodies), Newington Engineering Hull, Bronte Bus Haworth, C/J Bannister Lincs, Farrer & Faulder Carlisle. The above list is not complete but gives an impression of the area which the Barnabys products were to be seen. Total PSV output was in the region of 350 new, plus post war rebodying for several firms. The firm had lasted for 90 years

Ian Gibbs

The Pocklington History article was very interesting but I was wondering if EYMS had a presence in Pocklington before the takeover or if their present garage there was formerly Everinghams? Also what was Everinghams approximate fleet size?

Chris Barker

28/01/11

For Chris Barker and other Everingham Brothers fans-
The building which East Yorkshire Motor Services used is greatly altered from the original Everingham Brothers Garage which had an Apex Roof style. There were several high sliding doors with The Everingham Brothers name painted on them. The extreme left side door advertised 'Taxis for Hire', above the centre doors hung a large sign 'Everingham Bros Automobile Engineers', the right hand door lettering was 'Motor Garage and Charas or Charabancs for Hire', above the centre was a three light window half-moon shaped. This was all removed when the new square profiled frontage was rebuilt by East Yorkshire I would have loved to have rescued that Sign! In front of this sign was a very large lamp facing the Front to light it up at night. I believe the construction was corrugated metal panels affixed to a wooden framework, so common in that era. A corrugated tin roof roof completed the structure having glass roof lights in frames to illuminate the inside. I think this would be constructed for the 1919 post war opening

On the topic of Garages a third brother left the other two and opened his own Motor Garage in the town in August 1919 when he was demobbed from the RFC-RAF / NAVY / ARMY. His advert card stated -"Engineer and Electrician Motor and Cycle Agent" Oxy-Acetylene Welding of any Metal - Screw Cutting - Vulcanising- Motor Car For Hire -Tyre Stockist for Avon Tyres. He held seven agencies for motor cycle makes. An Electrical Engineer/Magneto Specialist the Military Services had him transferred on a rota basis (I guess) between 1914 and 1919. His daughter had pictures of him in three uniforms but I never got to copy them before she died. This third brother was very gifted being an AMIEE before 1914 passing out at Leeds University. He must have been knowledgeable because a General came looking for him in 1938 to ask him to take up a Military post again, sadly he had died in 1937.

When I get time I might do a write-up on him he had an amazing career even prior to 1914.
Regarding the Everingham Brothers fleet. There appears to have been approximately 68 buses bear in mind that a few fleet numbers were used twice as vehicles were replaced. Some early chassis were ex War Dept 1917 models. In 1914 an Alldays Landaulette had been acquired -1913 model It was registered to all 3 Everingham Brothers! Some of their early Charas were Lorries with demountable bodies for goods - house removals weekdays - passenger body on for weekend seaside trips. A funeral service was also offered during the early period!

Ian Gibbs

22/02/11

Following queries on Everingham Brothers Paint colours here is an official Barnaby photo of the only Maudslay ML6 in the Everingham Brothers fleet WF 4886 of 1932.

It gives an idea of the livery arrangement, White across window sashes and the roof, Steel-blue Band at waist, Grey to lower bodywork, note the Parcel rack on the roof!

The Everingham Brothers Emblem on the vehicles was reproduced in embossed colour print on paperwork, I have copied the emblem part for fans of the firm.

Ian Gibbs

In November, 1953 East Yorkshire was granted a number of Road Service Licences in relation to routes acquired from Everingham Brothers of Pocklington.

BE3/250: Kexby to York
BE3/251: Pocklington to Millington (later numbered 57)
BE3/252: Pocklington to York (later numbered 56)
BE3/253: Pocklington to York (later numbered 55, 55A, 55B)
BE3/254: York to Bridlington
BE3/255: Pocklington to York (later numbered 54, 54A to 54D)
BE3/256: Pocklington to Huggate (later numbered 58)
BE3/258: Pocklington circular via Nunburnholme (later numbeed 59)
BE3/259: Excursions from Pocklington
BE3/260: York to Heslington
BE3/261: Pocklington to Howden (later numbered 61, 62)
BE3/263: Pocklington to Driffield (later numbered 61, 60)
BE3/264: Pocklington to York (later numbered 60)
I have no information to what BE3/257 and BE3/262 routes were or if BE3/265 to BE3/267 referred to ex Everingham routes.

a) Can anyone fill in the blanks please?
b) What was Everingham's RSL prefix, (BE???)?
c) Has anyone a full list of Everingham Licences?

I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who has such information, thanks.

Keith Easton

14/07/11

The only info I have on Everingham's services are as following.
BE16/1 E&T from Railway St, Pocklington.
BE16/2 Pocklington to Nunburnholme, via Burnby, Kilnwick.
BE16/3 York to Dunnington.
BE16/4 York to Heslington.
BE16/5 Pocklington to Allerthorpe.
BE16/6 Pocklington to Millington.
BE16/7 Pocklington to York, via Bishop Wilton, Stamford Bridge.
BE16/9 Dunnington to York coco works.
BE16/10 York to Bridlington, via Pocklington, Driffield.
BE16/11 Pocklington to York, via Barmby Moor, Wilberfoss, Kexby.
BE16/12 Pocklington to Huggate, via Warter.
BE16/13 Pocklington to Selby Market Place, via Allerthorpe, Melbourne, Rossmoor, Bubwith, Highfield, Barlby Bridge.
BE16/14 Pocklington to Barmby Moor Institute.
BE16/15 York to York Race Course, via Parliament St.
BE16/18 Pocklington to York, via Seaton Ross, Melbourne, Sutton.

I don't know where I got this info from, so not sure how accurate it is, but it may be of help to you.

Mike Davies.

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