The Central London Transport Station

26/11/12

The Central London Transport Station

Gentlemen, I'm gathering information relating to a late 1920's operation from Mansfield / Nottingham by a company known as 'Gladwyn Parlour Cars' which I think, later played a part in the formation of noted Mansfield Independent the 'Ebor Bus Company'. Gladwyn had a daily service to The Central London Transport Station, Crescent Place, Marchmont Street. Does anyone have info on this Central Station? Google draws a blank. Any information on Gladwyn Cars or their connection to the Ebor company would be welcomed too.

Berisford Jones

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27/11/12 - 07:35

The Central London Coaching Station is mentioned in "Hello ...Coastal" as being opened in 1928 at Cartwright Gardens which is at the northern end of Marchmont Street. I guess this is what is being referred to. It was the forerunner of the various Kings Cross coach stations.
Neither Ebor nor Gladwyns are recorded in the book but interestingly by 1933 when the venture has met financial problems there is mention of Underwoods, amongst others, being involved in a restructuring and the creation of a new company - Central London Coach Station (1933) Ltd.

Mike Grant

27/11/12 - 07:36

Not much help I'm afraid Berisford, but I too have always had a fascination for Mansfield area independents, I grew up near Alfreton! The only thing I have is a copy of Buses Extra No 34, dated April/May 1985, which has an article by Roy Marshall in which he states that Ebor was a new company registered in 1930 to take over the bankrupt Gladwin Parlour Cars whose services had included one to London. Ebor had a sister company in York, hence the name. I hope you manage to obtain more information, at least the Ebor garage in Stanley Road is still in existence!

Chris Barker

27/11/12 - 09:03

The information below is taken from 'Hello Coastal' (the history of Victoria Coach Station) and the location description is expanded by reference to Google Maps.
Central London Coaching Station (which is described as being in Cartwright Gardens, the northern extension of Marchmont Street) was opened in 1928; a map shows it filling the space between Cartwright Gardens, Tavistock Place and Burton Place.
It was used initially by Finglands of Manchester, Imperial of Liverpool, Yelloway of Rochdale, Bush & Twiddy of Norwich and Crosville of Chester with more to follow.
The station is described as having a single long platform with covered accommodation, a buffet at one end and a waiting room at the other. It only lasted until 1933 when it ran in to financial difficulties; it struggled on for a little longer by which time the only users were Yelloway and Empire's Best. Most of the operators moved to a new Kings Cross Coach Station (the first of that name) which itself only lasted until 1947 including a break during the war period.

David Todd

28/11/12 - 07:26

Ctrl + to zoom in - Ctrl 0 (zero) back to normal

The June 1930 Timetable of the Central London Coaching Station includes a map of its location and a list of the operators serving it. Of those listed, none survive although the present day East Midland is the successor to the original company but not the same legal entity. Quest Motors of Maldon gave up its PSV work (twice!) but survives as a car dealer in that town.
Gladwyn is not listed, but under entries for Mansfield and Nottingham it says "See separate Handbill" which may be relevant.
The Coach Station was opened by Frank Lyne in 1928. Yelloway used it to 1938 but most operators moved to Kings Cross before that. The building was later taken over by the L.C.C. for use as a school bus garage. It was reported in 1965 that the gable end of a terrace of houses in the vicinity still showed "Central London Coaching Station" in painted letters. Alan Osborne who researched the many coach stations in this area reported that by 2005 the building had been replaced by a new building called Virginia Court but that some surrounding white painted walls might be original.

Nigel Turner

29/11/12 - 07:12

Well gents, some cracking information coming through, many thanks indeed, and whilst the Central London Transport Station mystery clears a little the Gladwyn Parlour Cars question is somewhat more elusive!
Information received off-site (thanks Clive) seems to suggest that Gladwyn were a short lived operation, incorporated May 1928, limited November 1928 and liquidated May 1929! Ebor are on the scene in October 1930. I have been provided with a flyer/handbill detailing the service but it carries few actual details that really matter, no depot or office is mentioned, just three 'agents' and only departure times from Mansfield, Nottingham and London.
So far the only connection between the two companies seems to be the comment made by Roy Marshall as reported by Chris Barker in the above. Once again guys, many thanks.

Berisford Jones

01/12/12 - 07:25

Buried in the PSV Circle fleet history on East Midland/Mansfield District (PB13), there is some sketchy detail on Gladwyns, as follows:
Gladwyn Parlour Car Services (1928) Limited was registered as a private company on 20 November 1928 to acquire the undertaking of the Gladwyn Parlour Car Services and to take over the businesses of three other local operators in the Mansfield area.
The company directors are given as B E Shenton, O T Lemon, C T Leeson and B H Oliver.
The information given is that express services had commenced as follows:
25 August 1928 - from Liverpool to London, and from Liverpool to Leeds via Rochdale and Bradford.
25 September 1928 - from Liverpool via Manchester to Nottingham
1 November 1928 - from Liverpool via Leeds to Newcastle.
All services ceased in December 1928, and the company was liquidated in May 1929.
Local services in the Mansfield area passed to the Ebor Trading Company, which became the Ebor Bus Company Limited in October 1930 and which was later absorbed into Mansfield District Traction Company in March 1950.
Sorry I can't add any more - the information seems to raise more questions than it answers, ie is anything known of the operations based in the Liverpool area?

Bob Gell

01/12/12 - 09:15

There's three-quarters of a page of detail about Gladwyn's Liverpool operation in Bruce Maund's Omnibus Society publication "Motor Coach Services from Merseyside 1920-1940 Part 1, The Independents".
There's too much detail to repeat here but the above comments are substantiated. The Nottingham based company had extensive plans for running express services and is reported to have owned 15 vehicles.

Mike Grant

05/12/13 - 15:42

I am just about to list this item on Ebay when I came across your question, Hope it helps.

Mike Stones

29/12/19 - 07:16

Old thread I know but I'm constantly on the look out for info about Gladwyn Parlour Car Services of Mansfield. I came across this newspaper clipping recently showing a 20 seat 1928 Reeve & Kenning observation body on a W&G chassis. This vehicle, bought for the Nottingham London services, was one of the extravagances that brought about the demise of the short lived venture.

Berisford Jones

30/12/19 - 06:43

Berisford, you will have noticed in Bob Gell's post a few weeks ago, he states that one of the directors of Gladwyn Parlour Coaches in 1928 was a B. H. Oliver. I'm sure you will recall that some years later, there was a private hire operator in Pinxton called ATO Transport, the initials being those of Ann and Thomas Oliver who bought the business from H. Mee, also of Pinxton.
I realise it's very tenuous but I wonder if there was a family connection there somewhere?

Chris Barker

07/01/20 - 06:42

Well Chris, the Bertie Hibbert Oliver (b.1889) mentioned above was one of 3 brothers and together with their old man they made up quite a business empire in and around Mansfield. Not least was their 'Oliver Motors' concern which actually supplied the observation vehicle in the picture. As for the Pinxton connection - I've had my finest ancestry investigator on the case but we can't connect Thomas & Ann with any of the Mansfield Oliver's.

Berisford Jones

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