Barton Mills (PCVs in the village)

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.

Sunday 27 June 1993 – The perfect end to a perfect day at the Dog and Partridge Inn, Barton Mills. The passengers return to their coach after taking a refreshment break. Semmence Coaches of Wymondham Bova Futura A583 MEH was new in May 1984 (to L F Bowen?) as A866 XOP. Between times it carried registration A20 MPS (when operated by Stoddards Coaches of Cheadle, Staffordshire?). Wymondham would be reached in less than one hour so the passengers hadn’t long to go before reaching home.

Saturday 13 April 1985 - Ambassador Travel LL757 (SPW 103R), a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new to Eastern Counties in May 1977, seen setting down near the Dog and Partridge Inn on the old A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1500 Cambridge to Brandon service 747. The pub subsequently closed but the building remains as a private residence named Trego House. The area this side of the wall bordered by the wooden posts supporting the chain link fence was the car park of the Bull Inn where the houses on Chestnut Close were later built.

Saturday 13 April 1985 - Ambassador Travel LL796 (OEX 796W), a Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new to Eastern Counties in December 1980, seen passing the Dog and Partridge Inn on the old A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1245 Cambridge to Thetford service 747. The pub subsequently closed but the building remains as a private residence named Trego House. The area on the right bordered by the wall and wooden posts supporting the chain link fence was the car park of the Bull Inn where the houses on Chestnut Close were later built.

Saturday 29 July 1989 - The Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills closed some years ago and is now a private house. It occasionally had coaches call for refreshments and Matthews of Shouldham, Norfolk (Blue Coaches) B622 DDW had called in around lunchtime. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNT that had bee new to Cleverly (Capitol Coaches) of Cwmbran in South Wales in May 1985.

Saturday 29 July 1989 - The Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills closed some years ago and is now a private house. It occasionally had coaches call for refreshments and Matthews of Shouldham, Norfolk (Blue Coaches) B622 DDW had called in around lunchtime. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNT that had bee new to Cleverly (Capitol Coaches) of Cwmbran in South Wales in May 1985.

Saturday 29 July 1989 - The Dog and Partridge Inn at Barton Mills closed some years ago and is now a private house. It occasionally had coaches call for refreshments and Matthews of Shouldham, Norfolk (Blue Coaches) B622 DDW had called in around lunchtime. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford YNT that had bee new to Cleverly (Capitol Coaches) of Cwmbran in South Wales in May 1985.

Sunday 31 March 1985 - Ambassador Travel 891 (EAH 891Y) seen on the old A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1420 Norwich to London National Express service 099. It is one of the eight Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tigers new to the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in February 1983 that wore the ‘Norfolk Flyer’ livery to operate services between Norfolk and London. They passed to Ambassador Travel when ECOC was split up in September 1984.

Sunday 24 March 1985 – Millfords Garage and filling station at Barton Mills was located on the site now occupied by the BP station on the eastbound carriageway leading up to Fiveways. The house in the left background stands on the corner of Tuddenham Road and, despite being enclosed by high trees, is recognisable today. The coach was operated by C J Down from Marytavy near Tavistock, Devon. An exuberant bunch of young ladies displaying a card bearing the words ‘Devon Team X Country’ crowd the rear seat. A cross country team making a cross country trip – just over 300 miles to go. I hope they were as lively after such a journey! I believe the coach was new to Battersby-Silver Grey of Morecambe registered CCW 936S which was a Duple Dominant bodied Volvo B58. Acquired by Down's circa 1983.

Sunday 19 August 1984 – Eastern Counties LT893 (EAH 893Y), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger, seen at Barton Mills when working the 1020 Norwich to London ‘Norfolk Flyer’ service 099 to London. It was new in February 1983 and passed to Ambassador Travel just a few weeks later in September 1984 when Eastern Counties was split up. It carried the Eastern Counties name in red letters along the top edge of the first large side windows. The National Express name was carried on the lower panels behind the rear wheels (white lettering on a blue block just visible in this shot). I had heard that the National Bus Company or National Express hierarchy were not pleased with the creation of this branding on the vehicles which defied the National Express corporate identity. In the background, on the approach to Fiveways roundabout, is another coach working on a National Express service. That was United Counties 179 (EBD 179X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Leopard new in July 1982, on a service 747 working from Bedford to Lowestoft. From 28 April 1985 this trip was extended back to start from Northampton at 0835. End to end service 747 linked Bristol with East Anglia offering, broadly speaking, a frequency of every two hours. Coaches started out from and ended up at principal mid-way points at the start of/end of the day. East of Cambridge United Counties participated on this one trip travelling east during the morning arriving at Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft in the early afternoon then returning in the mid to late afternoon arriving back home in the evening approx 2000/2030. Millford’s Garage is on the left, then selling Texaco fuel from pumps right alongside the roadway, was subsequently redesigned and greatly improved. The new workshop buildings stood behind the new filling station and these buildings are now the workshops of the East of England Ambulance Service.

Saturday 19 June 1993 - AJ’s Family Restaurant at Barton Mills (now Five Guys after being the Pancake and Waffle Shack in between) became a regular refreshment stop by the coaches of L F Bowen of Birmingham when operating their summer Saturday holiday express service from the West Midlands to the Norfolk Coast. In this view D784 SGB, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M which had been new to Park’s of Hamilton in March 1987, was running as coach number 3 today. On the left is a coach of Leon’s of Stafford that was also part of the Bowen’s convoy. (Originally posted 29 May 2016)

A Saturday in August 1992 (approx. 1610) - York Brothers of Cogenhoe near Northampton Plaxton Supreme bodied Ford R1115 coaches seen at AJ’s Family Restaurant at Barton Mills in Suffolk when operating their summer Saturday holiday service back to Northampton from Great Yarmouth. On the right is 50 (RBD 287Y) (a Supreme VI model originally FNM 710Y then SYK 901 before it became RBD 287Y new in 1982) and on the left is 63 (OPR 505W) new in 1981.

Sunday 28 April 1985 – Ambassador Travel LL877 (XPW 877X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Leopard new to Eastern Counties in July 1982, seen leaving Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0605 Norwich to Bristol National Express service 747. This duty involved the coach working a Norwich-Bristol-Norwich round trip within the same day – around 450 miles. Departing Norwich at 0605 it was due in Bristol at 1415 and then returned as the 1455 service from Bristol arriving in Norwich at 2310. This was the first day of the Summer 1985 schedules and the timetable may be seen here: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/49709240/in/album/729781 (That is a link to the leaflet cover. The timetables are show in the following two frames). The AA (Automobile Association) had a long presence with Fiveways initially with mobile patrolmen but latterly with the cabin seen on the left. In due course the cabin closed although the pedestal mounted members telephone remained for some time thereafter but that was also removed later.

Friday 7 February 1992 – Neal’s Travel H475 HSG seen after setting down in Barton Mills when working the return trip of Suffolk County Council supported service 145 from Mildenhall to Lackford. The service comprised just one trip each way. This return trip departed Mildenhall Health Centre (Chestnut Close) at 1047 calling at King Street at 1050 then travelling via Barton Mills and Icklingham. Neal’s operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included such market day only runs. Mrs Chapman (in the green coat) and Mrs Brabbin had returned from Mildenhall with their market day shopping. St. Mary’s Church forms the backcloth. The Church dates from around the mid-1300s some parts possibly earlier.

Friday (11?) November 1994 - Neal’s Travel of Isleham operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included market day only runs. Caetano Optimo bodied Toyota Coaster H391 CFT, which was new in March 1991, setting down in Church Lane, Barton Mills as it worked the return trip of service 145 from Mildenhall to Lackford. My then near neighbours Mr (Ted) and Mrs (Pam) Gage are in the photograph.

Friday 6 September 2024 (0828) – Coach Services Limited of Thetford YT09 YHN seen in Barton Mills when working the 0755 service 357 from Cavenham to Mildenhall. It is an East Lancs bodied Scania N270UD that was new to Nottingham City Transport in May 2009 as their 966. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays). The outline of service remains very much the same as before although with some minor alterations to the schedule which is now: 0755 Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge-Barton Mills- Mildenhall-MCA/The Hub 0835 (Schooldays only) (357) 0900 Mildenhall-West Row-Mildenhall 0928 (358) 0930 Mildenhall-Worlington-Freckenham- Red Lodge-Herringswell-Tuddenham-Cavenham-Risby-Bury St. Edmunds 1021 (357) 1025 Bury St. Edmunds-Risby-Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge-Freckenham-Worlington-Mildenhall 1115 (357) 1117 Mildenhall-West Row-Mildenhall 1145 (358) 1230 Mildenhall-Worlington-Freckenham- Red Lodge-Herringswell-Tuddenham-Cavenham-Risby-Bury St. Edmunds 1321 (357) 1325 Bury St. Edmunds-Risby-Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge-Freckenham-Worlington-Mildenhall 1415 (357) 1417 Mildenhall-West Row-Mildenhall 1445 (358) 1540 MCA/The Hub-Mildenhall-Barton Mills-Red Lodge-Herringswell-Tuddenham-Cavenham-Risby-Bury St. Edmunds 1637 (Schooldays only) (357) 1735 Bury St. Edmunds-Risby-Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge (Monday to Friday) 357 Whereas Mulleys used the same bus on the services all day, Coach Services interwork services 357/358 with their Thetford-Brandon-Mildenhall services 200/201 resulting in the three West Row circular services being covered by three different buses Mondays to Fridays.

Friday 6 September 2024 (0828) – Coach Services Limited of Thetford YT09 YHN seen in Barton Mills when working the 0755 service 357 from Cavenham to Mildenhall. It is an East Lancs bodied Scania N270UD that was new to Nottingham City Transport in May 2009 as their 966. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays). The outline of service remains very much the same as before although with some minor alterations to the schedule which is now: 0755 Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge-Barton Mills- Mildenhall-MCA/The Hub 0835 (Schooldays only) (357) 0900 Mildenhall-West Row-Mildenhall 0928 (358) 0930 Mildenhall-Worlington-Freckenham- Red Lodge-Herringswell-Tuddenham-Cavenham-Risby-Bury St. Edmunds 1021 (357) 1025 Bury St. Edmunds-Risby-Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge-Freckenham-Worlington-Mildenhall 1115 (357) 1117 Mildenhall-West Row-Mildenhall 1145 (358) 1230 Mildenhall-Worlington-Freckenham- Red Lodge-Herringswell-Tuddenham-Cavenham-Risby-Bury St. Edmunds 1321 (357) 1325 Bury St. Edmunds-Risby-Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge-Freckenham-Worlington-Mildenhall 1415 (357) 1417 Mildenhall-West Row-Mildenhall 1445 (358) 1540 MCA/The Hub-Mildenhall-Barton Mills-Red Lodge-Herringswell-Tuddenham-Cavenham-Risby-Bury St. Edmunds 1637 (Schooldays only) (357) 1735 Bury St. Edmunds-Risby-Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge (Monday to Friday) 357 Whereas Mulleys used the same bus on the services all day, Coach Services interwork services 357/358 with their Thetford-Brandon-Mildenhall services 200/201 resulting in the three West Row circular services being covered by three different buses Mondays to Fridays.