Barton Mills (PCVs in the village)

Sunday 28 April 1985 – Work had already started to upgrade the A11 to dual carriageway between Fiveways, Barton Mills and Red Lodge and I took the opportunity to climb a huge pile of earth positioned by the construction company to get this unusual photograph of Ambassador Travel LL800 (OEX 800W) passing the Bull Inn at Barton Mills. The alignment of the dual carriageway was to the right of the camera. The roadway in the photograph still remains but makes a 90 degree turn where the car heading away is seen. Note the car park of the Bull Inn lined with white posts where the houses of Chestnut Close now stand. LL800, a Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard new to Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in December 1980, was operating the 0735 National Express service 097 from Brandon to London.

Sunday 22 July 1984 – A United Counties Alexander T type bodied Leyland Leopard seen passing the Bull Inn at Barton Mills heading eastbound on the A11. It is one of the vehicles numbered in the 224-228 (MRP 224-228P) batch dating from May 1976. The road from Tuddenham is directly in front of the camera.

Sunday 19 August 1984 – United Counties 179 (EBD 179X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Leopard new in July 1982, seen passing the Bull Inn at Barton Mills working a National Express journey. Some aspects of the old road layout can still be recognised today. The utility building in the left background still stands. The roadway from there where the coach has travelled is now a local road which now bends to the left to pass in front of the Bull Inn turning roughly where the caravan is (note the ‘30’ mph sign). The road markings in the centre of the road show the turnings for Barton Mills (between the coach and the caravan) and for Tuddenham (at the side of the car). The eastbound lane of the dual carriageway was constructed roughly where the photograph was taken. Access to the Bull Inn car park is visible beyond the trees. At this time the car park was much bigger and is now occupied by house of Chestnut Close .

Sunday 28 April 1985 – Den Caney Universal Travel, Birmingham A720 UOP, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger new to the company in August 1983, seen passing the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills, Suffolk. Work had already started in creating a dual carriageway between here and Chalk Hill towards Red Lodge and the earthworks can be seen just to the left. Beyond the Dog and Partridge is Sandford's Garden Centre - both establishments now closed. The wooden posts on the right were the boundary of the Bull Inn car park which was redeveloped as Chestnut Close. (Coach may have been re-registered to DEN 83D later).

Sunday 28 April 1985 – Taylor's, London SE16 KUW 528P, a Plaxton Supreme bodied AEC Reliance new to National Travel South East in April 1976, passing the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills. Work had already started in creating a dual carriageway between here and Chalk Hill towards Red Lodge and the earthworks can be seen just to the left. Beyond the Dog and Partridge is Sandford's Garden Centre - both establishments now closed. The ground on the right was the Bull Inn car park which was redeveloped as Chestnut Close.

Sunday 28 April 1985 - Percivals Coaches 80 (LWL 744W) passing the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills when working the 0820 Oxford to Thetford service 747. The service was operated jointly with Premier Travel Services and National Express. Work had already started in creating a dual carriageway between here and Chalk Hill towards Red Lodge and the earthworks can be seen just to the left. Beyond the Dog and Partridge is Sandford's Garden Centre - both establishments now closed. The ground on the right was the Bull Inn car park which was redeveloped as Chestnut Close.

Sunday 5 May 1985 – Swaffham Coachways (S N and C A Clarke) WNV 824W, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo B10M new to Len Wright Travel in May 1981, carried Leger Travel branding. It was seen on the car park of the Bull Inn, Barton Mills whilst after taking a toilet and refreshment break. The car park is where Chestnut Close now stands.

Sunday 5 May 1985 – Swaffham Coachways (S N and C A Clarke) WNV 824W, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo B10M new to Len Wright Travel in May 1981, carried Leger Travel branding. It was seen about to pull out on to the A11 at Barton Mills after taking a break at the Bull Inn. Work had already started to upgrade the A11 to become dual carriageway between Fiveways, Barton Mills and Red Lodge. The car travelling towards the camera is passing the end of Tuddenham Road.

Saturday 13 April 1985 - Percivals Coaches 81 (LWL 745W) passing Barton Mills when working the 1310 Lowestoft to Oxford service 747 (operated jointly with Premier Travel Services and National Express). The red car was turning into the village to then pass along the front of the Bull Inn. The road to Tuddenham is beyond on the right.

Sunday 17 October 1993 – The building in the background is the Bull Inn at Barton Mills in Suffolk and the coach was parked on what was their car park, now occupied by the houses of Chestnut Close. Dewhirst Coaches of Bradford H749 VUA, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new in February 1991, was carrying a party of Leeds United supporters en route to a match in Ipswich. (The result was a 0-0 draw).

Sunday 15 August 1993 – Paramount Coaches (G R Harris) of Ilford F498 RML, appropriately a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1989. It was parked on what was the car park of the Bull Inn at Barton Mills which is where the houses of Chestnut Close were built some years later.

Saturday 25 November 1989 - Eniway Coaches (F J and M J Bridges) A528 LPP seen taking a break at the Dog and Partridge Inn, Barton Mills. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger that had been new to Frames Rickards Tours of London in October 1983. The company had operating bases at East Dereham and Saham Toney (near Watton) on its licence.

Saturday 25 November 1989 - Eniway Coaches (F J and M J Bridges) A528 LPP seen taking a break at the Dog and Partridge Inn, Barton Mills. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger that had been new to Frames Rickards Tours of London in October 1983. The company had operating bases at East Dereham and Saham Toney (near Watton) on its licence.

Sunday 27 June 1993 – The perfect end to a perfect day as two Norfolk based coaches take a break at the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills on their way home. Nearest the camera is Eniway Coaches of Dereham JBZ 4909, a Plaxton Paramount II 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger. I believe this coach was new to Hills of Tredegar in March 1983 registered RNY 309Y. Subsequently operated by Independent Coachways of Horsforth (as VFN 53) from whom Eniway acquired the coach in 1991 when it carried registration JUB 675Y. In the background is Semmence Coaches of Wymondham A583 MEH, a Bova Futura that was new as A866 XOP to Arnold’s Coaches of Tamworth in May 1984, a company later acquired by the Bowen Group. After service with Bowen it passed to Stoddard’s of Cheadle, Staffordshire where it carried registration A20 MPS. Both Dereham and Wymondham would be reached in less than one hour so the passengers hadn’t long to go before reaching home. The Dog and Partridge closed many years ago and became a private residence.

Saturday 16 January 1993 – Eniway Coaches (F J and M J Bridges) C465 DAH seen around 1000am taking a coffee break at the Dog and Partridge Inn, Barton Mills. It is a Caetano Algarve bodied DAF MB200 new in April 1986. The company had operating bases at East Dereham and Saham Toney (near Watton) on its licence.

Saturday 16 January 1993 – Eniway Coaches (F J and M J Bridges) C465 DAH seen around 1000am taking a coffee break at the Dog and Partridge Inn, Barton Mills. It is a Caetano Algarve bodied DAF MB200 new in April 1986. The company had operating bases at East Dereham and Saham Toney (near Watton) on its licence.

Saturday 1 June 1991 – Eastons Coaches Bova Futura A585 GPE had stopped for morning coffee at the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills on a tour to the Isle of Wight. It had been new to Seamarks of Luton in March 1984.

Saturday 1 June 1991 – Eastons Coaches of Brandiston, Norfolk Bova Futura A585 GPE had stopped for morning coffee at the Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills on a tour to the Isle of Wight. It had been new to Seamarks of Luton in March 1984.