At the outset of the last century, Banbury was the metropolis for village carriers with their carts.
Their names and where they came from are listed in James Rusher's commercial directory.
Some made daily journeys but many favoured Thursday, market day for both the produce and livestock.
All provided the people of the villages they served wi
th the opportunity to come into town or enabled them to order or receive goods from the shops.
Village carriers developed important links with inns in Banbury because of the need for food and water for their horses.
A roomy yard and a genial mine host ensured that favourite venues were the White Hart, Queens Head, Old George, Wagon and Horses (now the Banbury Cross), Catherine Wheel, Windmill, Reindeer, Plough, Bear, Angel and Leathern Bottle.
Typical of these carriers who came from the fringes of Banbury's area of influence was Harold Richard Matthews of Brailes (1896-1982). I have just received a delightful monograph about him penned by his eldest son David.
This is a compilation of the writings of his father who related stories of early years in and around the Brailes district.
Harold started working for a carrier in 1910 when he was 14 years old.
The decision to do this may well have been conditioned by the fact that Godson had employed his father for some 20 years.
Rusher's first reference to a Godson is in his directory for 1812. At that time the Brailes carrier came to the Windmill in North Bar every Thursday.
A trawl through later lists reveals that by 1839 he had made an arrangement for his horse to be fed and watered at a different inn, namely the Queens Head (afterwards called the Town Hall Tavern).
Coupled with this new destination was the decision to come to Banbury on Monday as well as Thursday.
David's father took over Godson's business in 1915. The horse-drawn carts he acquired were more than 70 years old. There were two horses, two vans and one spring cart.
In November 1923 the Godson carts were scrapped and replaced by the first in a succession of petrol and diesel buses. This Ford vehicle carried the name Richard Matthews and Son.
It was bought from country builders Lucketts of Shenington at a cost of £47 10s 0d.
Initially there were fewer passengers than had travelled by the carts. It is likely that there were not many occasions when all 14 seats were taken in this distinctive olive green bus with its black trimming.
However, the conveyance of goods assumed importance, especially the collection of eggs, butter, poultry, and rabbits. The main poultry connections was with JH Turner of Broad Street where bartering usually secured the best price.
Subsequent buses were mainly Bedfords, two of which were supplied by Sidney Ewins, a strong promoter of 1920s motoring and whose Banbury garage was near the Cross.
The tickets issued to passengers were printed by Bell Punch of London and were unusual in one very striking respect. Some values had a verse from St Paul's epistle to the Philippians.
This was a reflection of Harold's strict upbringing within Primitive Methodism. Although the family issued timetables for regular journeys, more characteristic of a small local firm was the sight of Harold on his knees in front of his house as he chalked onto a large blackboard a few of his forthcoming seaside trips or the mystery tours he ran during the summer months.
Harold Mathew's coaches were also among the many to be found in the parking areas outside the Northern Aluminium Company. He conveyed workers to and from the factory for close on 40 years.
David Matthews in his monograph concludes with an especially interesting 'I remember' section.
The first recollections concern the effect of the weather on local stone used to repair a Brailes road.
The surface fluctuated between a muddy state and a thick layer of dust. The latter condition prevailed in summer and allowed boys to mark out a ring for games of marbles.
First sightings generated much interest in the village. Harold recalled the arrival of a motorcar and then a steam omnibus that ran three times a day to Stratford.
A Shipston company owned it and children had the fun of free rides to Upper Brailes.
Can any of my readers remember this bus with its steel wheels and wooden seats?
There was also the time when a German band marched through Brailes and played opposite the shop of Mr Jarvis, the local saddler.
Also of German origin were some gypsies who camped on Lower Brailes green. Harold's uncle, Alfred Locke, gave them some faggots so that they could light a fire.
The life of Harold Richard Matthews belongs to an era when Banbury was both a market town and a place where industry was forging a revival following the demise of the Samuelson works.
On Thursdays his buses took their place within a colourful gathering of village operators who ensured that the services of carriers were not lost when their carts ceased to rumble along our roads.
My thanks to David Matthews for information and illustrations.
