Mitchell, Geo.
George Mitchell was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire in 1906. By about 1825 he was the ostler at the Tontine Inn, Haymarket [1]. During this time he had joined the temperance movement. In 1849 the Tontine Inn was sold to be demolished and replaced by the Market Hall. The owner, William Lyon Bickley, sold off the contents and goods of the business. George Mitchell bought most of the horses and carriages, which formed the basis of his business. He started his business at the stables of the Royal Hotel. However by 1852 he was based at the Angel Inn yard, Angel Street. This was where he remained in business.
George Mitchell was advertised an omnibus service from Market Hall to Broomhill via Western Bank in February 1852 with a fare of 3d. The fare of 3d was claimed to be consdierably below a fare of 6d charged by Thomas Percival for the Wicker Station to Botanical Gardens route - the first town omnibus service in Sheffield. The 3d tokens were advertised in 1852, available from the office, the driver or a grocer in Haymarket[2]. The advert opposite was published in White’s General Directory of Sheffield, 1852. In 1855 George Mitchell had added a route to Ranmoor. In White's Sheffield Directory of 1862 both routes were still operated by George Mitchell with a fare of 3d for the Broomhill route and 4d for the Ranmoor route - the Ranmoor route was also operated by two other operators - Charles Dunnill and Ezra Hounsfield.
Charles Dunnill, who had aquired the business of Peter Collis in 1860, and Ezra Hounsfield appear to have joined their business by 1866 when they and others formed the Sheffield Carriage Company. George Mitchell retired in 1870, selling his business to the Sheffield Carriage Company. By 1881 George was living in North Meols, Lankashire renting houses and land. He died in 1891 and is buried in Duke Street Cemetery, Southport.
| George Mitchell 1852 - 1870 | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:MIT.003.jpg | ||
| Source | (Smith) | |
| Filename | MIT.003 | |
| Value | 3d | |
| Add Desc. | From Broomhill to the Newmarket Fare 3d (advert) | |
| Size (mm) | 38x28 | |
| Manufacture | Oval Brass | |
| Notes | ||
