J Haydon & Sons ran livestock haulage out of Wharf Rd, Biddulph, North Staffs. My great grandfather John Haydon started in 1918 with a horse and cart making deliveries and the livestock business grew steadily from 1929 with the help of his four sons, son in law and grandson. From the early days and for many years they ran a fleet of Albions - their colour was bottle green (with some red) and gold sign writing.
They worked out of all the local markets including; Chelford, Stone, Uttoxeter, Leek, Newcastle, Congleton, Crewe and Beeston. They also ran to Mold in North Wales, Newark, Shrewsbury and Banbury (every Thursday). In later years they went as far as Totnes and Chard in the South West, Wellingborough, Crick and even Scotland!
The Wharf Rd yard had its own wash and garage The garage was a huge, draughty cathedral with dark, oily pit. I recall two men standing and jumping on an extension bar to remove wheel nuts. They loosened with a mighty howitzer crack! When pulling out of Wharf Road into Biddulph High Street, full lock was needed. Fresh off the wash, water would sluice out the back corner of the livestock body — watch out Saturday shoppers!
Their last Albion was a brand new Super Reiver 6 wheeler in 1966 but by the late 60s and early 70s they had moved to mainly ERFs (powered by Gardners) with Commers, Bedfords and Leylands as smaller wagons. King of the fleet was “6 legs” a 1968 ERF 6 wheeler and drawbar with Gardner 180. Those Gardners gave great service over many thousands of miles but on a cold Biddulph morning patience was needed - Driver David Machin recalls a pyrotechnic cold start, “I used to lift off the interior bonnet (a pain if you had a lot of kit with you) remove the air intake hose and light a piece of rag or rolled up paper. Press the starter with one hand, let the fire be drawn into engine and it (Gardner 120) would usually start up straight away. The trick was to have a good battery and not let go of the key until she fired!”
By 1977 Haydons ran 13 wagons and a drawbar trailer - their distinctive green a long and established part of everyday Biddulph life - a year later they purchased their first tractor unit and artic trailer - soon they were running several for both livestock and general haulage including coal haulage to local power staions.
By the late 1980s the yard was a mix of colour and derivatives of transport; livestock, general and coaches
Friday April 7th 1989 heralded the end of an era as, after 60 years, Haydons were no longer a livestock transporter preferring to concentrate instead on general haulage and Hollinsheads coaches. Today (2012) a huge Sainsburys supermarket dominates the view along Wharf Rd, built on the very spot that Haydon’s HQ stood for so many years but just along the way, where the old Council yard once stood, Hollinshead coaches still operate to keep the Haydon name in Wharf Rd and operating transport in Biddulph.
Michael W
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