Burton Latimer - Transport & Haulage: Overview of Early Bus Services

Burton Latimer’s
Early Motor Bus Services

An Overview

For many people living in Burton in the latter part of the last century, local bus services were synonymous with the green livery of the United Counties Bus Company (or - if you wanted to travel from Kettering to Pytchley - Royal Blue Coaches). However, a number of local independent bus services operated in the first half of the last century, even though United Counties later took most of them over. This page gives an overview of those early bus companies.

1. Midland Railway Company - Kettering Station.

Burton Latimer’s first motor bus service was provided by the Midland Railway Company who, from 1st July 1911 until 30th June 1912, ran a service from Burton Latimer to Kettering Station to connect with trains. The service was not a financial success, which is why it lasted for only a year.

2. Wellingborough Motor Omnibus Co Ltd - Wellingborough.

In June 1913 the Wellingborough Motor Omnibus Co Ltd commenced a service from Wellingborough via Finedon and Burton Latimer to Kettering. By June 1914 Burton Latimer was instead covered by the Company’s Rushden to Kettering route as the timetable below:

Wellingborough Motor Omnibus Company timetable for services through Burton Latimer in 1914

By January 1921 the timetable was as follows:

Wellingborough Motor Omnibus Company timetable for services through Burton Latimer in 1921

Wellingborough Motor Omnibus Company timetable for weekend services through Burton Latimer in 1921

3. United Counties Omnibus & Road Transport Co Ltd.

In September 1921 the Wellingborough Motor Omnibus Co Ltd was bought by the United Counties Omnibus & Road Transport Co Ltd. which continued to serve Burton Latimer until it was absorbed into the Stagecoach group of companies in 1987, although retaining the United Counties name until 1999.

4. John Meadows - Burton Latimer.

John Meadows started a limited service between Burton Latimer and Kettering in 1919 and added routes to Wellingborough on Wednesdays and to Thrapston on Tuesdays and Saturdays in 1921.

In 1924 Meadows joined with the Frost Brothers of Kettering to form:-

5. Meadows & Frost - Kettering.

Meadows & Frost continued the services previously operated by Meadows on his own and rapidly expanded in other areas, particularly Corby.

By 1929 Meadows & Frost were operating the timetable shown below:

Meadows & Frost bus services to Burton Latimer 1929

In 1930 Meadows and the Frost Brothers dissolved their partnership and again operated independently.

6. John Meadows & Son - Barton Seagrave.

After splitting with the Frosts, John Meadows had less to do with Burton Latimer although a Kettering - Thrapston - Huntingdon service was at times operated via Burton Latimer.

During the period 1933-6 Meadows provided a limited service between Burton Latimer, Isham and Pytchley.

In September 1938 Meadows & Son sold their business to United Counties.

7. Frosts (Motors) Ltd - Kettering.

After splitting with Meadows, Frosts retained the Kettering to Burton Latimer service and those from Burton Latimer to both Wellingborough and Thrapston.

At 1st January 1933 Frosts’ Kettering to Burton Latimer timetable was as shown below:

Frosts (Motors) Ltd sold their business to United Counties in October 1934.

8. Lewis Timson & Son - Burton Latimer

Lewis Timson started a Burton Latimer - Polewell Lane - Kettering service in 1921 and sometime later ran between Finedon, Burton Latimer, Barton Seagrave and Kettering. By 1926 Timson’s service had been co-ordinated with that of Charles White of Kettering.

Lewis Timson sold his business to United Counties in March 1936.

9. Charles White - Kettering.

At some time in the early 1920s Charles White started a Kettering to Burton Latimer service which by 1926 had been co-ordinated with the timings of Lewis Timson.

Charles White’s business was taken over by Frosts (Motors) Ltd in 1931.