Road Services companies: Pickfords Ltd.

This series consists of deeds, agreements contracts, stock and share registers, minutes and reports.

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Road Transport

From early days of 18th century Thomas Pickford had carried on transport business with pack horses which, when he died in 1768, was carried on by his sons Matthew and Thomas. (There is tradition that the firm started over a century earlier.)

By 1817, Pickford and Co. was being run by four sons of Matthew and Thomas Pickford - Thomas and Matthew, and James and Matthew; in this year, however, Joseph Baxendale entered proprietorship and after 1850, Baxendale family assumed control of firm.

In 1901 name of firm was changed to Pickfords Limited and re-constituted again in 1909.

On 4th September 1912, agreement was sealed between Pickfords Ltd., London Parcels Delivery Company and Carter Paterson and Co. Ltd., providing for working arrangement of respective businesses of those companies.

By agreement of 14.1.1920, share capital of Pickfords Ltd., was purchased by proprietors of Hay's Wharf Cartage Co.Ltd., and others, although original name and tradition of Pickfords was to continue.

By another agreement, dated 9th August 1933, capital of Hay's Wharf Cartage Co.Ltd., was acquired by four main line railway companies in equal parts, although Pickfords again continued to develop along their individual line.

Upon passing of Transport Act 1947, Pickfords Ltd., became part of British Transport Commission and although first coming under the Road Transport Executive, became part of Road Haulage Executive on 20.6.1949 under Statutory Instrument No.1130 of that year.

Following British Transport Commission Act of 1953, Road Haulage Executive ceased to exist as from 1.10.1953 under Statutory Instrument No.1291 of 1953, and was replaced by British Road Services (q.v.) which came into effect as and from 1.1.1955. Pickfords Ltd., formed Special Traffic Division of both above-mentioned Executives and eventually became Pickfords Division of British Road Services.