SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

For the Transport enthusiasts and historians,I passed the NelsonPublic House on Armley Rd today.As you all know this pub closed down and has reopened as an Indian Restaurant(Jaipoor).I am glad to say that the Blue Plaque commemorating Samuel Ledgardhas been returned to it's rightful position on the wall of this establishment.Also on the plus side a friend of mine ate there on Saturday evening and said the Meal was fine with friendly service and not too pricey.

When did Sammy Ledgards cease to be a bus company.A story I heard was they called it a day shortly after an accident (about 1967/1968 ) involving one of thier drivers and two young children who were run over on Kirkstall road near to the haddon road junction.

carith wrote: When did Sammy Ledgards cease to be a bus company.A story I heard was they called it a day shortly after an accident (about 1967/1968 ) involving one of thier drivers and two young children who were run over on Kirkstall road near to the haddon road junction. Sorry to say that it is completely unfounded. Samuel Ledgard died in April 1952 (in his quarters at the Nelson Hotel) and the business was then run during difficult times by The Executors. Samuel's son Tom was the leading family member but was handicapped by an accident as a young man and was in failing health by the mid 1960s and had no successors. Also the declared intention of the Government was to bring passenger transport under much more central control of one kind or another, and the spectre of compulsory purchase for peanuts (as in haulage just after WW2 (remember British Road Services ??). So on October 14th 1967 the business was sold to the Transport Holding Company and was placed with West Yorkshire Road Car Company who acquired all the SL vehicles and the Otley Depot. Just prior to the actual cessation agreement was reached with Leeds City Transport for them to take over three of the SL services. These were Leeds - Horsforth via Hawksworth Road, Troydale - Pudsey - Calverley, and Leeds - Pudsey - Bradford, the latter to be shared with Bradford City Transport. LCT took over no vehicles, but a good number of staff.Whether or not an accident like the one mentioned occurred or not I can't say, and I've never heard of it, but Samuel Ledgard's safety and reliability record was exceptionally good - and hordes of passengers, even after all this time, would be very glad to see the familiar blue buses back again.

Leeds-lad wrote: For the Transport enthusiasts and historians,I passed the NelsonPublic House on Armley Rd today.As you all know this pub closed down and has reopened as an Indian Restaurant(Jaipoor).I am glad to say that the Blue Plaque commemorating Samuel Ledgardhas been returned to it's rightful position on the wall of this establishment.Also on the plus side a friend of mine ate there on Saturday evening and said the Meal was fine with friendly service and not too pricey. The new proprietor of the Nelson, a very charming and professional Indian chap, has spent many months and an enormous amount of money on the old pub and nearby buildings, and he is fully sympathetic to retaining the heritage of the place. He has attended a meeting of the Samuel Ledgard Society in Horsforth, I believe it was in April, and outlined his plans. He agreed to one room containing a small amount of memorabilia about the old Firm. I'm glad that your friend was happy with his visit - I shall be going there soon myself when I can find a "slot" in this so called "relaxed" retirement with "plenty of time to do everything you want." LOL LOL

In a report on page 18 of today's YEP it states "The Samuel Ledgard Society is holding a celebration commemorating the centenary of an important moment in Leeds's transport legacy. In 1912 , the Samuel Ledgard Bus Company purchased its first charabanc coach. The commemoration event will be held at Pudsey Civic Hall on Saturday, October 13. Buses of the type that operated in Ledgard's area will be on display...some will be available for free rides...Doors open at 10am and admission is free for the all-day celebration."

A VERY SPECIAL CENTENARY ANNIVERSARYOF THE FIRST CHARABANC                    OPERATED BY SAMUEL LEDGARD     SATURDAY 13TH OCTOBER AT PUDSEY CIVIC HALL 10AM-4PM                                FREE ADMISSIONDisplay of memorabilia Shows* Presentations * Trade stalls* and much moreFree bus service operating on a regular timetable~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~             8th ANNUAL TRANSPORT COLLECTORS FAIR        SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER DOORS OPEN 10AM TILL 4PM                             AT PUDSEY CIVIC HALL                             ADMISSION ONLY £1         Up to 100 stalls selling all manner of transport related material             Refreshment available between 11am to 3pm