Brighton, Hove & Preston United Omnibus Company

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In August 1884 the Brighton Corporation issued licences to the Brighton General Omnibus company, which had been formed in July. The company issued a prospectus with a share capital of £50,000[1]. This may have been the catalyst for the local Brighton horse bus operators to amalgamate, with the Brighton, Hove and Preston United Omnibus Company Limited being formed in September 1884 with a share capital of £35,000[2]. The local operators were William Taylor Beard, William Mayner and Henry Thomas, with William Taylor Beard becoming the manager. Walter Tilley was invited to joined but decided to remain an independent operator.

Brighton c.jpg

In April 1885 the Brighton, Hove and Preston United Omnibus Company directors purchased the debentures of the Brigton General Omnibus Company and then petitioned for this company to be wound up[3]. The Brighton General Omnibus Company went into liqudation with the horses being sold off and the omnibuses locked up until their licences expired. This led to the Brighton, Hove and Preston United Omnibus Company being the only major omnibus company in Brighton.

In November 1916 Thomas Tilling Limited purchased the assets of the company[4]. At this time the company had licences for 41 petrol buses, 12 electric buses and 8 horse omnibuses. The company went into voloutary liquidation in August 1921[5].

The photograph opposite shows a book of 1d fares with the pass listed below.

Brighton, Hove & Preston United Omnibus Company Ltd. 1884 - 1916
BHP.P01.jpg
Source
Filename BHP.P01
Value No Value
Add Desc. Pass
Size (mm) 30
Manufacture Bone with incuse lettering
Notes Probable director's pass

photo courtesy Richard R

  1. Brighton Gazette, 23 Aug 1884, page 1
  2. Morning Post, 20 Sep 1884, page 7
  3. Brighton Herald, 30 Jan 1886, page 4
  4. Sussex Daily News, 20 Nov 1916, page 4
  5. The London Gazette, 4 Oct 1921, Issue 32476, Page 7815