Date:
April 2005

Object Details:
Three new 14-seat Chevrolet buses built for a Leicestershire pioneer bus operator outside the body builders works in June 1927.

These were some of the first buses to be built at Willowbrook’s new factory in Loughborough. The buses were for Charles Herbert Allen a pioneering businessman who provided public transport. Charles Allen started his business from 40 Leicester Road, Mountsorrel in May 1922 and took a brave step in 1927 in introducing town services in Loughborough with no guarantee of success and no promise that others would not copy him. In 1927 there were at least 95 operators running bus services from the county into Leicester!

Mr Allen’s venture was successful and he was to provide a large network of bus and coach services in the region for close on 35 years. The three buses photographed were used until 1932 when they were replaced by larger 20-seat buses also bodied by Willowbrook.

The company was eventually taken over by the Midland "Red" bus company in July 1955 following the death of Mr Allen. The Loughborough area became quite a Mecca for tram, bus and coach body building firms with other notable companies such as Brush and Yeates.

Object Location:
Leicester Transport Heritage Trust Archives
Viewing by appointment only

Themes:
Transport  |  Working Life  |  Changing World  |  Leicestershire People

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