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Article researched by Jacky Lawrence 2007 |
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Birch Bros The Rushden Connection |
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In 1810 William Birch left Plymouth for London and started a business running horse-drawn cabs. His daughter-in-law Elizabeth & her two sons carried on the business which progressed to horsedrawn buses in 1847, running between Pimlico and Mansion House. Throughout the rest of the 19th century Birches expanded to take in further routes in London as members of various horse omnibus associations until the last of these associations were eventually disbanded in 1909. Motor vehicles were introduced into the fleet in 1919 operating as ‘See Britain Tours’. Birches were also active in the London taxi business and re-entered the London bus business in 1925 but, pending the establishment of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, they looked further afield outside London into the countryside and started their first route to Bedford in 1928. This route was extended to Rushden & Kettering by 1930. Originally known as BK it was renumbered as Birch route 203 in 1942. [an accident in 1944]
There were also additional routes to Luton, Harrold, Wellingborough & Kettering but their principal route was always London, Kings Cross through Welwyn, Hitchin and Bedford to Rushden. The 203 operated hourly in the 1950s with mainly ‘Marlborough’ class double deckers which seated 53 and the journey took 3 hours. In 1949 the coach and bus business was split into two separate companies. In October 1959 part of the main 203 service was rerouted via the newly opened M1 making for a much faster journey. Double deckers were not allowed on the motorway so single deckers numbered 203M were brought into service. Gradually the original 203 service was reduced. On 14th September 1969 the 203 & 203M bus routes were sold to United Counties together with twelve vehicles and the depot in Rushden was also sold. The Birch name lived on with their coach business running from the depot in Kentish Town. On 1st February 1971 the business and coaches were sold to the George Ewer Group and so Birches faded from the public transport scene forever.
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Birch Bros routes in 1956
203M London-M1 Motorway-Bedford-Rushden 204 Hitchin-Whitwell-Welwyn 205 Welwyn-Kimpton-Luton 206 Welwyn-Whitwell-Luton 209 Henlow Camp-Holwell-Hitchin 210 Harrold-Odell-Sharnbrook-Rushden 211 Harrold-Carlton-Pavenham-Bedford 212 Henlow Camp-Gravenhurst-Shillington-Luton 213 Gravenhurst-Campton-Shefford-Bedford 215 Luton-Kimpton-Knebworth-Stevenage 225 Hitchin-Henlow-Shillington/Gravenhurst 213 & 215 were both short lived routes.
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