Sidbury in 1957

[MattW]

As seen in this week's Malvern Gazette

[chason]

Hard to believe this was part of the A38 and the main trunk route to the South West before the construction of the M5. Road works on this scale today would cause total gridlock for months!

[TimBrown]

As seen in this week's Malvern Gazette.

Looks like one of Worcester Garage S6 buses on the London Road service. Always thought the 7 feet 6 inch wide HHA series single-deckers had the best proportions of early BMMO under-floor engined buses. Hope to see one back on the road some time in the future?

Note the Pre-War Austin Seven and the early Post-War Vauxhall Wyvern in the car park.

Agree with Chason about Worcester at the time the picture was taken, all the traffic including heavy goods vehicles from the Bristol and Oxford directions passed through the City centre via the High Street before taking the A449 or A38 in Barbourne for Black Country or Birmingham and the North. Lorries from South Wales and Hereford all used the river bridge and Deansway or Castle Street depending on their destination. Coaches owned by Ribble, Standerwick, Yelloway, Midland Red and South Midland operated daily scheduled services through Worcester from all points of the compass and a multitude of independents came through on seaside day trips to Weston-super-Mare and Porthcawl. On race days the Croft Road car park would be filled with coaches from around the country and a high percentage from Wales.

[DD12]

As seen in this week's Malvern Gazette.

Looks like one of Worcester Garage S6 buses on the London Road service. Always thought the 7 feet 6 inch wide HHA series single-deckers had the best proportions of early BMMO under-floor engined buses. Hope to see one back on the road some time in the future?

Note the Pre-War Austin Seven and the early Post-War Vauxhall Wyvern in the car park.

Agree with Chason about Worcester at the time the picture was taken, all the traffic including heavy goods vehicles from the Bristol and Oxford directions passed through the City centre via the High Street before taking the A449 or A38 in Barbourne for Black Country or Birmingham and the North. Lorries from South Wales and Hereford all used the river bridge and Deansway or Castle Street depending on their destination. Coaches owned by Ribble, Standerwick, Yelloway, Midland Red and South Midland operated daily scheduled services through Worcester from all points of the compass and a multitude of independents came through on seaside day trips to Weston-super-Mare and Porthcawl. On race days the Croft Road car park would be filled with coaches from around the country and a high percentage from Wales.

I agree about the proportions of the S6, Tim, - but from photographs, I prefer the wider D5 / D5B to the narrower AD1; -- you saw them in the flesh / metal, so which did you prefer ?
Also, that's a nice "linguistic snapshot" from you above, thank you, -- -- I just got to see the tail-end of the Worcester of that era, when I was a kid.

[MattW]

Thanks for the information guys - I have to admit that was why I posted the picture!

[DD12]

Thanks for posting it Matt, it's especially interesting to me, as it's one of my nearby roads, and even though it retains many old buildings, it's character and people have changed substantially ! -- -- My family moved to Worcester (by steam train) in 1960, and my father rode the bus through the High Street and Sidbury to work, Monday to Saturday !
Here's some more !
https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/17 ... st-street/

[chason]

Thanks for posting the Mike Pryce article. I always enjoy them and remember that his father used to cut my hair! He used to be at Skans in Broad St, then set up on his own on the first floor of the same shop. He had an appointment system which saved those awful waits on busy days. But I digress.

I tend to agree with DD12 about the D5/D5B's. The latter particularly were fine buses to ride in, possibly the most comfortable I can remember although not noted for being lively performers.

[TimBrown]

I agree about the proportions of the S6, Tim, - but from photographs, I prefer the wider D5 / D5B to the narrower AD1; -- you saw them in the flesh / metal, so which did you prefer ?
Also, that's a nice "linguistic snapshot" from you above, thank you, -- -- I just got to see the tail-end of the Worcester of that era, when I was a kid.

The wider D5 / D5B looked more in proportion compared with AD2 particularly the later Metro-Cammell bodied AECs which were devoid of the guttering just below the advertisement space between decks. It has been said elsewhere that these buses had a rather sad, or mournful, look to them, but as Chason comments they were quiet and smooth machines.

I missed Black & White Motorways of Cheltenham from the list of regular long distance service operators running through the City. A popular destination used to be 'Cheltenham for Connecting Services'. We may also have seen the occasional coach from Bristol Greyhound, Crosville, North Western, Trent, PMT and Barton. Croft Road seemed to be the Worcester coach station at the time, if my memory is correct.

[DD12]

Just a footnote, -- but very appropriate for here, -- is that Sidbury (and surrounding roads) is again enjoying major roadworks, with long lengths of deep trenches dug.

It also looks reminiscent of the "great tramway siege" when the new tracks were being laid (and at least a few old photos of which have survived).