Category: Nicholson

Buses Samuel LEDGARD Leeds West Yorkshire England UK

samuel ledgard

Samuel Ledgard

$_35

AEC Regent III NXP764AEC Regent III NXP764
in Samuel Ledgard livery.
ex-London Transport RT4410

Samuel Ledgard (1874–1952) was a Leeds entrepreneur who became a major West Yorkshire Independent bus operator. Following his death in 1952, his executors continued to operate the Samuel Ledgard bus company up until 1967, when it was acquired by the West Yorkshire Road Car Company.

1929-gilford-ad

History

1934 ECW B33R body Leyland LT5B Lion Sam Ledg lgky70821934 ECW B33R body Leyland LT5B Lion Sam Ledgard lgky7082

1874 – 1952

1935 Ledgards famous Brush bodied 1935 Maudsley Marathon coach CUB11935 Ledgards famous Brush bodied 1935 Maudsley Marathon coach CUB1

Samuel Ledgard was born in Leeds in 1874. His business empire started in 1897 when he became the licensee of the Nelson Hotel in Armley, Leeds. He also owned a brewery and bottling plant, located behind The Nelson and bottled bulk Guinness and Bass. In expanding this business he provided outside catering at race meetings and local shows, and initially used a horse-and-cart to support this enterprise. This led him to further expand into the haulage business – initially with his horses then, in 1906, with a steam lorry. In 1912 he bought a Karrier petrol-engined lorry, registered U1949. He then bought an interchangeable charabanc body, manufactured by William Nicholson of Otley, to be fitted to his lorry for carrying passengers at weekends when there was little haulage work. In 1913 he took over Bridge Garage in Leeds to service and repair his own, and others, vehicles. His other businesses included cattle dealing and farming, quarrying and gravel extraction. He also bought property around his hotel, which eventually provided space for his bus garage.

1935 Leyland TD4 new to Ledgard in 1935 with a Leyland metal framed body

1935 Leyland TD4 new to Ledgard with a Leyland metal framed body

His move into bus service was in 1924 with a Horsforth to Leeds service.[3] He expanded both organically and by taking over a number of other bus companies from 1924 to 1943, by which time Samuel Ledgard buses were well established, operating from the main depot in Armley, and from other depots in Otley, Yeadon, Ilkley and Bradford.

1936 and is a Leyland TS7 with an English Electric C32F body

1936 and is a Leyland TS7 with an English Electric C32F body

The Ledgard fleet was predominantly Leyland and the last buses ordered by Samuel Ledgard were three Leyland Titan PD2/12s. These entered service a mere month before he died in April 1952.

1936 Leyland Cheetah LZ with delightfully traditional Barnaby bodywork

1936 Leyland Cheetah LZ with delightfully traditional Barnaby bodywork

1952 – 1967

1936, a Leyland TS7 with an English Electric C32F body1936, a Leyland TS7 with an English Electric C32F body

Samuel Ledgard’s estate totalled £129,491. As the company was still owned by him, it formed part of his personal assets. The death duties on this amounted to £29,883, which threatened the continuance of the business and meant that, when looking to update the fleet, the executors had to look to the second-hand market. This strategy resulted a wide range of vehicles from various manufacturers entering service, including buses from: AEC, Albion, Bristol, Daimler and Leyland. A significant influx was 23 ex-London Transport ‘austerity’ Daimler CWA6’s with Park Royal bodywork during 1953-1954, 22 of which went into service unmodified, save for platform doors being fitted. They gave stirling service until the last one was withdrawn in 1962. However, one notable exception to the second-hand purchases, was six new AEC Regent V buses with Roe bodywork which were delivered in 1957. One of these buses was registered 1949U – a reversal of the registration on Samuel’s first petrol lorry, in 1912.

1937 Leyland TS7 new to Ledgard in 1937 with a Duple C32F body

1937 Leyland TS7 new to Ledgard in 1937 with a Duple C32F body

In an attempt to standardise such a diverse fleet, 1963 saw the first of many ex-London Transport RT-type AEC Regent III buses being purchased. Over the next four and a half years, 34 of these vehicles entered the Ledgard fleet.

1940 Leyland TD7 with Leyland H30-26R body

1940 Leyland TD7 with Leyland H30-26R body

In August 1967, it was announced that West Yorkshire Road Car Company would acquire the Ledgard business. The date for this was set to be midnight on Saturday 14 October 1967. Whilst Ledgard’s staff were offered employment with West Yorkshire, only 14 of over 100 Ledgard vehicles acquired by West Yorkshire entered service – ten AEC Regent V and two Daimler CVG6 buses, plus two Duple-bodied Ford coaches. By 1970, even these vehicles had been sold. I was working as a bus conductor for Leeds Corporation in 1967 and the union shop steward was gloating over Leeds intending to take over Ledgards so I am surprised to hear that West Yorks took them over. Their garage at Armley had a very steep little slope out onto Kirkstall Road that must have been a nightmare in snow and ice.

1940 Leyland vehicle is a 1940 Titan TD7

1940 Leyland vehicle is Titan TD7

The present day

1940+1952 Leyland Titans. At the rear is PNW91, a 1952 PD2-12, while leading the way is JNW288, a 1940 TD7 lgpnw911940+1952 Leyland Titans. At the rear is PNW91, a 1952 PD2-12, while leading the way is JNW288, a 1940 TD7 lgpnw91

  • An active enthusiasts society (the Samuel Ledgard Society) was formed in 1998. The society holds an annual reunion, social events and publishes a quarterly magazine: The Ledgard Chat.
  • The Nelson Hotel survives, and bears a blue plaque in Samuel Ledgard’s memory. A nearby road is named Ledgard Way.
  • The Otley depot building is still in existence and is now used by a tyre-fitting company.

1943 Guy Arab II which entered service with Ledgard in 1943 with a utility body and was rebodied in 1951 with a Roe H31-25R body1943 Guy Arab II which entered service with Ledgard with a utility body and was rebodied in 1951 with a Roe H31-25R body

Further information

1943 Samuel Ledgard in 1943 was this Guy Arab I, JUA762, which was rebodied by Roe in 1951 with the H31-25R body1943 Samuel Ledgard was this Guy Arab I, JUA762, which was rebodied by Roe in 1951 with the H31-25R body

  • Buses Illustrated Issue No 155 (February 1968) Article ‘Farewell to Ledgards’ by Chris Youhill

1944 Daimler CWA6 with Duple H30-26R body 1944 Daimler CWA6 with Roe H30-26RD body 1945 Daimler CWA6 JUB651 had a Duple H30-26R body 1945 Daimler CWA6 with a Brush H30-26R body 1945 Daimler CWD6 with a Duple H30-26RD body 1946 Albion Valkyrie CX13 with BBW (Bristol Tramways Bodybuilding Works) rear entrance bodywork

1915 2004-12-2304-001-lo

1946 Daimler CWA6 HGF914 with a Park Royal H30-26RD body 1946 Daimler CWA6 new as London Transport D271 in October 1946 with a Park Royal H30-26R body 1946 Leyland PD1s with Leyland H30-26R bodies 1947 as a Brush-bodied Leyland PD1A lgbck441 1947 Leyland PD1A with an unusual Bristol Brislington H30-26R body lgkhw622 1947 Leyland PD1A with Leyland H32-26R body bck422 1947 Leyland PD1A with Leyland H32-26R body lgbck621

Samuel Ledgard - Beer & Blue Buses

1947 Leyland PD1A with Leyland H32-26R body lgbck633 1947 Leyland PD1A with Leyland H32-26R body 1948 A.E.C. Regent III lghlw181 1948 AEC Regent III with East Lancs H31-28R body lggdk401 1948 AEC Regent III with East Lancs H31-28R body lggdk404

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1948 AEC Regent III with Roberts H30-26R body of 1948 lggwy157 1948 Bristol K5G with ECW H30-26R body lglhu520 1948 Daimler CVD6s with Brush bodywork lgjfj55 1948 ECW-bodied Leyland PD1A lglae12a 1948 JFJ52 and JFJ55 resting on the forecourt of Ilkley depot prior lgjfj52

Caledon Charabanc

1948 Leyland 7RT lgkgu263 1948 Leyland PD1A with an ECW H30-26R body lgkhy395a 1949 Foden PVSC6 with a Plaxton FC33F body lgmua866 1949 Foden PVSC6 with Plaxton C33F bodie lgmua864 1949 Foden PVSC6 with Plaxton C33F body lgmua864a

Ledgard Extra Stout

1949 Foden PVSC6 with Plaxton FC33F bodies lgmua865 1949-Ledgard-Foden-MUA866 1950 AEC lgkyy506 1950 Burlingham C33F bodied Leyland PS1-1 lgkup949a 1950 Foden PVFE6 with Plaxton Envoy FC39F body lgonw2

samuel-ledgard-sml3-john-kinsley

1950 Guy Arab UF with Guy B40F body lgguy3a 1950 Ledgard ONW2, a Foden PVFE6 with Plaxton Envoy FC39F bodylgonw2a 1950 Leyland lgkyy799 1950 Leyland lowbridge PD2-3 lgeuh959

samuel-ledgard-sml1-john-kinsley

1950 Leyland PD2-1 JWU131 1950 Leyland Tiger PS1-1 with Burlingham body lgkup949 1950 lgkyy508 1950 lgllu853

Ledgard Samuel

1951 Daimler Freeline with a Duple B36D body lglrw377 1951 Duple Roadmaster C41F bodied Leyland PSU1-11 Royal Tiger lggva289 1951 Guy Arab UF fitted from new with a preselector gearbox and carried a Guy B40F body lgguy3 1951 Leyland PSU 1-1 Royal Tiger Willowbrook B43F body lg1952u 1951 Maudslay AEC Regal IV with Burlingham C41C body lgmtj357 1952 A.E.C. Regent III ex London Transport RT3496 lglyr915 1952 A.E.C. Regent III ex London Transport RT3499 lglyr918 1952 A.E.C. Regent III ex London Transport RT3514 lglyr933 1952 A.E.C. Regent III ex London Transport RT3524 lgmll834a 1952 AEC lgmll834 1952 AEC Regent III with Weymann lowbridge bodywork lgmxx232b 1952 AEC Regent IIIs with Weymann bodywork lgmxx232a 1952 Leyland H30-26R bodied Leyland PD2-12 lgpnw91a 1952 London Transport AEC Regent III with lowbridge Weymann bodywork lgmxx232 1952 Samuel Ledgard vehicle lgmua865 1953 AEC regent Roe H37-28R body lg1953ua 1953 ex-London Transport Weymann-bodied RT3661 lgmxx176 1954 Guy Arab LUF with a Picktree C35F body lgdcn831a 1954 Guy Arab LUF with rare Picktree Continental C35F body dating from 1954 lgdcn831 1955 A.E.C. MD3RV Regent V with a Weymann H33-28R body lgncy453 1955 Crossley Regent V (CMD3RV001) with Park Royal H33-28R body lg88cmv 1955 Guy Arab LUF with a Picktree C35F body lgdcn834 1955 Guy Arab LUF with a Picktree C35F body lgdcn836 1955 Guy Arab LUF with a Picktree C35F body lgdcn839 1955 Guy Arab LUF with a Picktree C35F body lgdcn839a 1955 Leeds DCN838 was a Guy Arab LUF with a Picktree C35F body lgdcn838 1955 Leyland Tiger Cub with Burlingham C41F body lguua796 1956 Daimler CVG6 with Willowbrook H37-29RD body lgsdu711 1957 A.E.C. D3RV Regent Vs with Roe H37-28R body lg1949u 1957 A.E.C. D3RV Regent Vs with Roe H37-28R body lg1950u 1957 A.E.C. D3RV Regent Vs with Roe H37-28R body lg1951u 1957 AEC Regent V with Roe H37-28R body lg1953u 1957 AEC Regent V with Roe H37-28R body lg1954u 1957 Daimler CVG6 with a Burlingham H36-27R body lgxug141 1960 GHA941 Samuel Ledgard Daimler seen in Otley 1961 Ledgard JWU131 was an Leyland lowbridge PD2-1 built for Felix Motors in 1950, sold to Ledgard 1962, MDT221, an AEC Regent 1965 photo Leyland PSU3-3RT Leopards with Plaxton Panorama C51F bodies lgaum413c 1966 AEC Regent III GUY Picktree lgmll910 1966 Samuel ledgard c-col-scan-s 1969 Foden LedgardThat’s all what i could find about Samuel Ledgard Bus Park