Littleborough from Cleggswood Hill
LORRIES & ROAD HAULIERS
ROAD FREIGHT IN AND THROUGH LITTLEBOROUGH
Roads have always been important for the carriage of freight from the early Packhorse trains too the present day but the First World War and increasing reliable internal combustion engines plus many surplus army trucks etc, led to the expansion of the road haulage industry. Not being common carriers meant they could offer prices lower than the railway companies but were able to deliver direct to the ultimate destination of the goods. These benefits ultimately led to increases in road haulage which was matched by improving roads (unlike today 2026).
Littleborough Haulage Companies
Over the years there have been a number of local haulage companies located in the borough some of which started in the horse and cart era and lasted into the 20th or 21st Century. Often the companies started locally but they moved out for space or residential proximity.
The History of the individual Companies is detailed below:
William Burrill - from horse Drawn Carts to 8 wheel trucks
William Burrill, a Yorkshireman and farmer started carrying for Fothergill and Harvey with his horse and lorry. Gradually, the transport side grew to the extent he had 40 horses carrying coal from Littleborough Sidings to local mills as well as being haulier for the Rochdale Canal Company. During the First World War, transfer of cargo into canal boats proved too slow and a lot of Khaki cloth was taken direct to Manchester with a horse change at Middleton. In 1922 William Burrill bought 2 Maudsley lorries to carry cloth into Manchester.
A slump in the Cotton Industry resulted in his son Henry resorting to ‘Tramping’, that is to pick up a load to any destination and when that had been delivered taking another load to some place not particularly near home. During such journeys he noticed that the West Riding was notably more prosperous so William took-over a small transport business in Bradford. With contacts in the import/export trade, Burrill's ran mainly between Liverpool/Birkenhead and the West Riding carrying manufactured goods. William Burrill died in 1925. His son Henry took-over the fleet which by then had grown to 5 vehicles, all Maudsley 4 wheelers. Henry, like his father was very far sighted and enterprising, consequently as soon as 6 wheel lorries were on the market, Henry bought two, each costing £1,000 in 1929. The business continued to prosper and in 1931 he was buying AEC vehicles with pneumatic tyres and diesel engines. This continued until the outbreak of the Second World War by which time he had a fleet of 25 vehicles employing over 25 men. These were based at the Canal Wharf in Littleborough, a convenient half way point between Merseyside and the West Riding. Picture bottom left - 3 way Tipper
After Dunkirk when things became very serious with the transport industry divided into sections and was required to move ordinance and materials concerned with the war effort. Part of this was moving Hurricane Fighters to the north of Scotland for shipment to Russia. After the war, haulage businesses were nationalised and Burrill 8 wheel lorries moved into British Road Services (BRS). At that point Henry then retired and died 30 years later. William's other son, also William, worked for BRS but in 1957 he took-over another transport business in Rochdale which he sold on as a going concern in 1988, then he too retired. Details from a letter from the family to John Street for his book “The Story of Littleborough”
Richard Jay (Later Richard Jay Ltd)
Richard Jay who has been mentioned under Buses advertised many times:
MAY 1903 - CALDERMOOR POULTRY FARM
Richard Jay, Carrier, coal and Coke Dealer, Furniture Remover
Waggonette for Hire - 87 Hare Hill Road
September 1910 - PARTIES Requiring Cars, Landaus, Waggonettes are invited to apply for terms to R Jay, CALDERMOUNT, LITTLEBOROUGH
1914 - RICHARD JAY
COAL MERCHANT, CARRIER & COACH OPERATOR
Enquiries receive prompt attention
Tel 65 LITTLEBOROUGH
March/April 1920
TRANSPORT UP-TO DATE
Our 4 ton MOTOR LORRY is now running frequently to MANCHESTER an HEBDEN BRIDGE, GOODS PICKED UP AND DELIVERED AT ANY STAGE, Any weight up to 4 ton
May and October 1920 the adverts had changed again but added “4 ton AEC Lorry".
September 1929 saw the company’s 4 ton Leyland involved in a “Alarming Motor Accident”, The flywheel of the lorry ‘burst’ or ‘Broke Up; injuring the driver. The fragments of the flywheel damaged 2 local shops but no others were injured. 4 years later the company was again in court due the vehicle being over-weight. However, the case indicates a significant increase in the carrying capacity of the vehicle in that its permitted load was 12 tons. In later years Richard left the running of the company to his sons though remained as Managing Director. Richard and his wife Ann celebrated their Diamond Wedding in January 1941 but unfortunately, both died the following month and were buried together in St Barnabas Churchyard, not far from the family home and garage. The business continued until it was taken over by Wilkinson’s Transport Ltd in January 1951. A month later the 4,000 sq foot garage was offered for sale
THE LEACH FAMILY
Cycles & Cycle Shop, Taxis and Haulage plus Petrol Station
After Robert William Leach worked as an Iron Moulder for many years he subsequently owned a bike shop located at 32 Church Street later becoming the Raleigh Agent in 1908. Robert also manufactured his own cycles know as WARDLEWORTH CYCLES. He also sold petrol from pumps located outside the Royal Oak Pub (now closed) - see picture right and note petrol pumps on the left. The petrol was delivered in barrels carried on horse drawn carts.
TAXIS SERVICE
Soon after the First World War he started his taxi business seeing the opportunity to chauffeur local mill owners such as Sir Alfred Law and Gordon Harvey. The taxi service was still operating in 1944 when an employee ‘borrowed’ a truck to take some friends back to Rochdale after their ordered “Leach” Taxi failed to arrive.
HAULAGE
John Alfred Leach, Robert’s son, bought has first tipper truck in 1931 carrying coal to the local mills See picture middle right. The business expanded over the years serving Hess Products, The Tannery, Fothergill & Harvey, Clegg’s Shore Mill and Taylor’s Builders etc. In the early years he had a base next to the Red Lion pub but in 1950 he bought the petrol station know as Central Garage (later known as Python Garage) and later acquired a plot of land opposite - See picture bottom left (now used by Corrosion Resistant Products). He continued to expand the company obtaining flat bodied trucks and later articulated vehicles (see also picture bottom right). The company remained in Littleborough until 1994 when expansion of the fleet led to the company moving to continued expansion.
Details from a letter from the family to John Street for his book “The Story of Littleborough”
Hibbert Milton Sutcliffe, Elboro’ Garage, Littleborough
Hibbert, another Yorkshire man and Haulage Contractor had obtained by 1941 a garage on the corner of Charles Street and Featherstall Road - Pictured in an advertisement right. In 1945, it is believed that Hibbert's 18 year old son Edger was in court for having an insecure load on his lorry which resulted in an oil spill some 3 miles long. As this had endangered cyclists and took council workmen 5 hours to cover the spill with sand and ashes, Edgar and another were each fined £3 with 2s 6d witness fees.
One of the companies regular journeys was taking animal hides from the Tannery at the bottom of Charles Street to Hardy’s Glue works down Stubley Mill Road.
Hibbert died on Christmas day 1961 and left some £39,915 to his 3 children, Edna, Edgar and Brian. The company was still advertising for a driver in 1969 but must have closed shortly afterwards. His wife, Caroline Eliza died in April 1980.
Their garage remained for some years before being demolished and the site used for a Petrol station
Cloughfield Transport
The two 8 wheeler tanker operator worked for the chemical works on Hollingworth Road - Limited information only available at present but reserches to be udeetaken
J Grindrod & Son Ltd - Road Haulier, Python Garage, Todmorden Road
Although the company was registered in 1937, little or no information was revealed by on-line local newspaper searches prior to 1965. From then on a number of adverts were published in the Rochdale Observer which ranged from “WANTED 3 commercial vehicle fitters” to “WE WISH EVERY SUCCESS TO THE PARKLAMD ESTATE All road making materials - ASHES, HARDCORE, STONE supplied by J Grindrod and Son Ltd”. The latter advert had the address as Python Garage, Shore Road. Throughout the late 1960s the company continued to advertise for drivers and until the 1970s for mechanics. 1972 saw a new move by the company which sought planning approval for a ‘brick’ making plant on Todmorden Road. The plant would have made a type of ‘breeze’ block. The proposal raised much local opposition so no such works was ever built. However, in December 1972 the company was advertising “WANTED ASH TIPS within 20 Miles of Rochdale J Grindrod and Son Ltd”. Presumably the company had a source of ashes which would have been used in the ‘brick’ making plant. In December 1974 the company appeared in court for faulty brakes, dangerous parts and emitting too much smoke. Whilst the proprietor gave a reasoned response to the charges it was fined £60. In March 1975 the company advertised “WANTED FOR HIRE in the north Manchester area 6-WHEEL TIPPERS Regular work, will fit two-way radio".
The owner was actively involved in Rugby being chairman of Rochdale Hornets in 1970s and 1980s and adverts for his haulage operations often featured in match programmes During late 1984 the company branched into uPVC glazing systems based at their Todmorden Road joinery site previously occupied by Leach Bros transport. It is unclear when the haulage business ceased operation but the company appears to have closed around 1999
R Rudge and Son Ltd, Littleborough
The Rochdale Observer carried an advert notifying that this company based on Wardle Street, off Whitelees Road, Littleborough was applying for a renewal of its ‘Good Vehicle Operator’s Licence’ which indicated that the company had at least been going since the late 1970s or 1980s. It sought to have 9 vehicles and 18 trailers. The application brought numerous objections which resulted in conditions which the company was displeased with. In October 1986 the company applied to alter the licence to increase the fleet to 14 goods vehicles and 20 trailers. Despite the objections and conditions attached to the Operator’s Licence, R Rudge were advertising for HGV Class 1 drivers at the Wardle St base in 1995 and 1999.
Blagden Chemicals' closed their plant at Red Lees, Dean Head late in the 20th C. Around 2000, R Rudge and Sons Ltd moved their base to Dean Head.
Pictured below from left to right
Foden Artic Tractor courtesy of Craig Berriff
Scania Artic courtesy of Keith Collins
View of Dean Head Yard in 2009 by B Pratt - in background - Doghill to Steanor Bottom Turnpike, road middle - 1824 Todmorden - Littleborough Turnpike Rochdale Canal at bottom
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