Anybody remember some of these haulage and own account transport company’s from the 70’s in North Manchester :- Henry Johnson & Son(Chadderton), Thomas Harrison & Son(Chadderton), Peter Woods & Son (O/D from Chadderton), Prescotts of Failsworth, E & D Warehousing(Chadderton), Sammy Scotts (Oldham), Townson Tankers(Oldham), Blue Dart Transport(Middleton), Di Lusso Kitchens(Chadderton they had a big fleet from Salford Van Hire), D.Mortimers of Failsworth & Hemel Hempstead, Courtaulds Ltd; Northern Spinning Division whose massive transport depot was next to the British Areospace factory on Greengate, Middleton, Gtr. Manchester.
It would be good to see if anyone remembered or had any pictures of these old company’s.
Thanks
Dave Penn;
I,m a Chadderton lad born here still live here .I remember some of them,will ask my mate at weekend he probably drove for all of them.Prescotts of Failsworth are still going they have just moved to a new yard at Broadgate Chadderton at the side of the M60.
Great stuff ! thanks ‘johnpirate’ look forward to seeing if your mate has some recollections of these companys. I worked for Henry Johnsons for 5/6 yrs and my mate (Billy Whizz) worked for Prescott’s in the 70’s. Him & his wife went off and opened a bar in the Algarve never seem them since but know there are still there 
I know Brian Prescott is still around think I saw his motor just recently coming through Sowerby Bridge but didn’t know that ‘Prescotts of Failsworth’ were still at it .
Anyway thanks again
Regards
Dave Penn;
If you have worked any of the companies.Dave you might know Tommy Weaver.Thats the lad I,m talking about.He works for Singletons of Shaw at the moment.I know he did for Scotts,
What about Sea Route Ferry they had a depot on the Pilsworth Industrial Estate Heywood (Although one of their lorries had Haywood sign written on the door 
)
I also remember Harold lamb from Rochdale had a brand new yellow and blue Scania 111 in 1978, a haulier called Jack Croll pulled some Sea Route and Merrick Trailers with old red Atkis, and did a company with white and purple lorries called Laing Freight have a yard up there somewhere?
I used to drink in the ‘Pig and Whistle’ and ‘The Talbot’ in Heywood on nights out or go and park on Birch Services and walk out the back to a pub down the track a bit!!
Anyone remember any of this? Are those Pubs still there? I’m going back say to 1976 till 1982!!!
Regards Pat
ainacs:
What about Sea Route Ferry they had a depot on the Pilsworth Industrial Estate Heywood (Although one of their lorries had Haywood sign written on the doorI also remember Harold lamb from Rochdale had a brand new yellow and blue Scania 111 in 1978, a haulier called Jack Croll pulled some Sea Route and Merrick Trailers with old red Atkis, and did a company with white and purple lorries called Laing Freight have a yard up there somewhere?
I used to drink in the ‘Pig and Whistle’ and ‘The Talbot’ in Heywood on nights out or go and park on Birch Services and walk out the back to a pub down the track a bit!!
Anyone remember any of this? Are those Pubs still there? I’m going back say to 1976 till 1982!!!
Regards Pat
Yes Pat, I have taken a drink or two in the Pig and Whistle ( near that low bridge with the single lane traffic lights ) when I used to work for Hanson Transport who had a depot on the Pilsworth Industrial Estate. We were on contract to I.C.I. Heywood who were on the Heywood Industial Estate, the old R.A.F. Heywood site.
The funny thing is that my Dad helped build the old R.A.F. camp back in 1939 when he worked for Wimpeys and then joined the R.A.F.
In 1973 I came out of the R.A.F. and my first proper driving job was with a company called Patrick O’ Dwyer driving a six wheel Ford tipper and we had to knock down most of the old R.A.F.Heywood site.
The name of the pub behind Birch Services westbound was called The White Hart and the one near the Heywood Industrial Estate used to be called The Three Arrows.
Dave Penn, if you look on Big Al’s website you will find a couple of photo’s of Blue Dart. 
Here is a photo that I took of the first motor that I drove for Blue Dart.
and a couple of motors from Hanson’s on the I.C.I. contract that John Harrison used to drive.
Dave, do you remember that Norfolk Line had a depot in Heywood and Nuttalls in Rochdale, there used to be loads of transport companies in that area, what happened to them all. ? 
Regards Steve.
Thanks fella’s for all the responses, pics & memory’s 
As I’ve said in some previous posts I’ve got a couple of health problems that stopped me driving and today is one of them days when I’m struggling to just drive the efing laptop and put a few sentences together, so I’ll get back to this thread as soon as I’m feeling back on top.
Thanks again guys 
Regards
Dave Penn;
There was also Alex Sharples from Salford. He ran a few Scania’s iirc.
johnpirate:
I,m a Chadderton lad born here still live here
Unlucky
I live just on the edge of Park Estate
Just gripped my dad, he used to work for Courtald’s bringing cotton back from Liverpool, The loader there on the overhead crane was a guy called Harry Ryland’s, My dad said he virtually ran the warehouse, he lives round the corner from me.
Blue Dart was at Vita
Prescott’s were behind the Pifco mill in Failsworth
Courtalds and NSD were on greengate, the buildings are still there, think 1 is the crane place and the other Matthews transport.
Townson were on Wellyhole street, think now Barrett’s/Richardsons
Peter Woods - Drury Lane
I think Harrison’s got bought by Express Parcels at Middy Junction, when i worked there there was a manager called John Harrison who’s fathers company had been bought by EPS and thats how he was on the books.
Dave Do you remember Reeves transport next door to courtaulds on greengate. They ran one of the first scanias in the country,I think they were green and red before being taken over by Ralph Hilton HTS. Also Harrison and Jones (foam) George Dew . COOP soft drinks Bullits wifes uncle Stan Wormbold used to work for Scotts in the late fiftys Regards Foden 46
B1 GGK:
johnpirate:
I,m a Chadderton lad born here still live here
Unlucky
I live just on the edge of Park Estate
Townson were on Wellyhole street, think now Barrett’s/Richardsons
WELLYHOLE STREET
I.I.R.C. there was a pub called The Streetbridge on Wellyhole Street in the early seventies, a real drivers pub where all the drivers knew each other, the fact that they had a lock in every night, especially Saturday afternoon was purely just a co-incidence, I think the landlord was an ex driver and still did a bit of part time on the road. Saturday afternoon was always a full house with companies like Prescotts of Failsworth, Hadfields, Sammy Scotts, Harrison and Jones,
Courtaulds, Remploy, Harris’s Transport , Blue Dart, Bowater Scott, Firth Transport, Rob Roy Transport, Vitafoam, Crow Tankers, always being well representative.
If you lived in Chadderton over the last thirty years you might of seen Our Kid driving one of his old wagons in the area.
If you see him in the Foden, give him a flash but not if you are wearing a raincoat.
sound pics them mate used to see your kid about a lot when i worked for bennetts with etch , did he play in a band ? wern’t townsons in bell st mumps where h.hill builders were
Dave Penn…I have one picture of a Henry Johnson Dodge / Commer tautliner I’ll post it when I dig it out!
remember prescotts of failsworth very well, my oldman drove for them for over 20years. i remember billy whizz. and daffy duck etc. they had a amart fleet of daf,s before they finished they still have a garage in failsworth but no trucks. brian prescott transport are still going now run by brians sons has brian himself passedaway a few years ago.ihave lots of pics of the fleet if you are interested.
Viking:
There was also Alex Sharples from Salford. He ran a few Scania’s iirc.
I had dealings with that guy.This is a public forum and I dont want to get in trouble also I dont want my kneecaps rearranging.Mushroomman I,m the other side of Broadway to you BareTrees.I,m a South Chadd lad really Broadway Moston Lane East end.But I,ve lived in the centre of Chadd for over 15 years.
johnpirate:
I,m the other side of Broadway to you BareTrees.I,m a South Chadd lad really Broadway Moston Lane East end.But I,ve lived in the centre of Chadd for over 15 years.
Do you drink around ChadVegas or are you more sensible than that?
Does that guy on Milne Street still park his wagon in the front yard?
He used to drop his trailor in Express’ yard.
Tilly - Dont be shy with the pics.