Bartons
Founders' Day
Saturday October 8th 2022
A brand new event celebrating the heritage, history and future of The Garage and Bartons.
As we emerge from the horrors of the recent pandemic, this weekend brings an opportunity for everyone interested in Barton Transport to enjoy a very special day out at Chilwell - a celebration on what would usually be Goose Fair weekend which will commemorate the very first scheduled Barton service from Long Eaton to the fair which took place in 1908.
You are invited to join us for what is the largest gathering of Barton vehicles for many years and have a look around not just the garage areas but also much of Barton House itself, the control centre of what was one of Europe's largest and best loved public transport operators.
Bartons plc and the separate events company, Barton Bros Ltd, will be welcoming visitors from 10am until 2pm on Saturday. A number of preserved Barton vehicles now in private ownership will be joining the party. You will be able to see some of the buses in action; watch film showing Barton related images in classic cinema seating and enjoy a gallery of pictures and other ephemera including a number of images of previously unseen personal papers. There will also be an extensive collection of Nottingham-built Raleigh bicycles on display.
Admission is free to everyone and, in addition to the excellent local cafes, refreshments will be available on site and a licensed bar will be open all day.
There will, of course, be plenty of room in The Garage to sit and chat over a drink.
It is also hoped to be able to accommodate stalls representing the work of the emerging Barton Archive (where you are invited to donate or return any items of Barton memorabilia or talk to us about having your photo collection scanned for posterity free of charge) and the Facebook group dedicated to the history of Barton Transport.
Despite limitations created by staff shortages and the recent fuel difficulties, the line-up of vehicles promises to be the most varied and interesting on offer anywhere this year and will include an example of the first type and the very last Barton bus together; the lowest double decker ever built; a classic Leyland half cab double decker, three of the last Barton coaches, a 1936 Leyland Cub, the mighty Bull, three Leopards and a classic AEC Regent V. And possibly even the famous "Ghost Bus" if time, permission and the strength of the aged Bull are sufficient to encourage it out of dry storage.
There is no parking on site so visitors are encouraged to use public transport or local car parks.
Public transport links are excellent and ideal for anyone with limited mobility, with bus stops and the tram stop directly outside the site and park and ride at Toton Lane.
Huntingdon Street
Information regarding Barton House, 270 - 276 Huntingdon Street, Nottingham will be posted on twitter.
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BARTON HOUSE, Huntingdon Street: relocation to Chilwell
During our last financial year to the end of September, terms were agreed for the sale of land in the Company's ownership on Huntingdon Street in Nottingham.
In very simple terms, the sale contract agreed required only the removal of the currently unused building to leave a level, vacant, freehold site in order to complete.
We have long aspired, if it were possible, to relocate the building currently upon that land, which this Company built in 1939, to the major development site at Chilwell, where the first phase of residential construction is now well underway. In Huntingdon Street the building had become lost among buildings of a totally different scale and character, which will only in our opinion get much worse. The feasibility of the project was intimately assessed by experts and judged achievable and very attractive as part of our comprehensive Chilwell scheme.
Careful dismantling of the building was due to start on the 21st August 2019 with a view to completing the preliminary part of the project around the end of November or early December 2019.
All arrangements were in hand for this to happen, but these had to be halted on August 16th by the completely unexpected Grade II listing of the building, without any prior indication, notice or public consultation that this might occur. We have subsequently been told an application to list the building had been made only on the 31st July. No formal third party interest in its architectural or historic merit has ever previously been expressed to us. More of this in the future.
Following the listing application, on the 7th of August 2019, a press story, itself based upon a press release provided by others, was published by a local news outlet without the Company's prior knowledge, and therefore without our being given a right of reply.
The misinformed story quickly spread onto social media, and as written, caused a limited degree of unhelpful and adverse comment about what others perceived our plans to be. The Grade II listing of the building followed this coverage. As the truth started to emerge, however, there were many positive comments supporting our actual intentions .
We are now in a position to reveal in our own words the true story of what we believe influenced the unexpected listing of the building which has thrown well ordered plans into un-chartered waters. We would encourage you to follow the story and the reaction to it; and once you have heard it, feel free to comment to us privately or publicly as you wish, as we are interested to hear your views.
We intend to use all suitable methods to share our story and this is why we are taking this opportunity to draw this to your attention.
