Album 1980s/1990s A11 Barton Mills/Red Lodge from David Slater (Spoddendale)

Caroline Seagull 526 FN at Barton Mills – 24 Mar 1985 (12-48)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:31:15 +0000

Sunday 24 March 1985 – Caroline Seagull Coaches (Cobholm Hire Services) 526 FN passing the end of Bell Lane, Barton Mills as it travelled westbound on the old A11 road. It is an AEC Reliance new in July 1962 to East Kent Road Car Company with Park Royal bodywork. In August 1972 it was re-bodied with the Plaxton Panorama Elite body seen here.

I believe it was part of the huge convoy of buses and coaches conveying supporters of Norwich City Football Club to Wembley for the League Cup Final against Sunderland. Norwich City was triumphant with a 1-0 win.

LUM 155V near Fiveways, Barton Mills – 15 Jul 1984 (X841-1)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:14:35 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 15 July 1984 – LUM 155V, a Unicar bodied Bedford YMT new in January 1980 to Hargreaves Eurover Coaches, Morley, Leeds, seen heading westbound on the A11 on the eastern approach to Fiveways, Barton Mills.

Spanish builder Unicar was represented by the UK coach dealer Alf Moseley and had limited success with imports around 1979-1981.

Dewhirst Coaches H749 VUA at the Bull Inn, Barton Mills – 17 Oct 1993 (207-13A)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:54:58 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 17 October 1993 – Dewhirst Coaches of Bradford H749 VUA seen on the car park of the Bull Inn at Barton Mills in Suffolk. Houses of Chestnut Close now occupy this former car park. Visible on the right is the pub sign for the Dog & Partridge Inn which closed and is now a private residence.

The coach is a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new in February 1991 and was carrying a party of Leeds United supporters en route to a match in Ipswich. (The result of which was a 0-0 draw).

Ementon of Cranfield, Beds RHL 217X at Barton Mills picnic area (A1065) – 5 Aug 1995 (278-23)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:25:26 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Saturday 5 August 1995 – S M Ementon Limited, Cranfield, Bedfordshire RHL 217X seen at the Barton Mills picnic area (A1065).

It was a Duple Dominant III bodied Volvo B10M new to Target Travel of Cramlington in May 1982 registered OCN 424X.

Ementon of Cranfield, Beds RHL 217X at Barton Mills picnic area (A1065) – 5 Aug 1995 (278-22)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:25:27 +0000

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Empress Coaches LJI 3521 (F472 WFX) at Barton Mills picnic area (A1065) – 3 Aug 1993 (199-27)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:25:28 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Saturday 3 July 1993 – Empress Coaches, Bethnal Green, London LJI 3521 (rather than LJ 13521 as the number plate shows) seen at the Barton Mills picnic area (A1065) on a private hire for a church group.

It is a nicely turned out Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Volvo B10M. I believe it was new to Excelsior, Bournemouth in April 1989 registered F472 WFX.

Ambassador Travel 903 (A666 XDA) on the A11 at Barton Mills – 24 Mar 1985 (12-6)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 08:15:59 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 24 March 1985 - Ambassador Travel MCW Metroliner 903 (A666 XDA) seen on the old A11 at Barton Mills when working the National Express service 099 from Norwich to London (the destination display reads Norwich).

It had been new to Midland Red Express in June 1984 and was one of three such vehicles in the fleet. Seating was for 79 passengers (57 on the upper deck and 22 on the lower deck).

(The PiP shows the state of the direction sign in July 2023 where it has lost a few characters over the ensuing 38 years!)

Coaches at the Barton Mills Picnic Area (A1065) – 19 Sep 1992 (180-14)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:04:31 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Saturday 19 September 1992 – The lay-by alongside the A1065 close to Fiveways, Barton Mills was improved by the local council having originally been just a dirt surface which was re-designed and laid out with a blocked surface. The caravan used by a local trader as a snack stand was replaced with a log cabin with picnic tables, some covered with a canopy.

Together with the closure of a number of other catering establishments along the A11 at Red Lodge etc the Barton Mills site became more popular with the number of coaches taking a break whilst travelling through the area. This particular morning there was a varied collection of coaches to be seen.

On the left is a Plaxton Paramount 3200 operated by Tigerways of Harlow, Essex (IIL 1640 possibly new as D585 MVR to Shearings Holidays in April 1987, if so then it is a Leyland Tiger).

On the right is DNK 577Y, a Leyland Tiger with what would have been one of the last Plaxton Supreme bodies to enter service in April 1983. The Paramount model was launched at that time. It was operated by Associated Coachways also from Harlow. It was apparently ordered by Felicita Luxury Coaches of Gillingham, Kent but entered service with Smith’s Travel of Brenzett, Romney Marsh, Kent.

In front of the latter is SFV 205P, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new to National Travel (North West) as their 1205 in June 1976. I didn’t note the operator name.

In the distant background is a Van Hool Alizée of Golden Boy Coaches.

Kentishmen Coaches CIB 3683 at Barton Mills – 3 Jul 1993 (199-31)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 18:40:47 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Saturday 3 July 1993 – Kentishmen Coaches of Swanley CIB 3683, a Van Hool Alizée bodied Scania K113, seen at the Barton Mills Picnic Site (A1065) during a refreshment break.

Kentishmen Coaches CIB 3683 at Barton Mills – 3 Jul 1993 (199-26)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 18:40:48 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Saturday 3 July 1993 – Kentishmen Coaches of Swanley CIB 3683, a Van Hool Alizée bodied Scania K113, seen at the Barton Mills Picnic Site (A1065) during a refreshment break.

Paramount Coaches F498 RML at the Bull Inn, Barton Mills – 15 Aug 1993 (203-04)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 18:44:35 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 15 August 1993 – Paramount Coaches (G R Harris) of Ilford F498 RML, appropriately a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1989.

It was parked on what was the car park of the Bull Inn at Barton Mills which is where the houses of Chestnut Close were built some years later.

Chambers (Stevenage) H5 CRC on the A11 at Red Lodge - 21 Jun 1998

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:50:19 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 21 June 1998 – Chambers Coaches (Stevenage) Limited H5 CRC seen on the A11 at Red Lodge in Suffolk. It was a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Scania K113.

Coach Services Limited of Thetford M101 VKY on the A11 at Red Lodge – May 1999 (414-10)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:08:53 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

A Saturday in May 1999 – A wave from the driver of Coach Services Limited, Thetford M101 VKY as he drove westbound on the A11 Red Lodge by-pass. The coach is a Bova Futura which was new to Boultons Coaches of Cardington, Shropshire in January 1995.

Cambus Millerbus 304 (PEX 620W) on the A11 at Barton Mills - 26 Jun 1993 (197-16A)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 18:12:35 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Saturday 26 June 1993 (1055) – On Sunday 23 May 1993 National Express introduced a new timetable drastically cutting the number of trips on the cross-country Great Yarmouth-Paignton service which had previously provided regular frequency local facilities over the Great Yarmouth-Norwich-Cambridge sector.

In order to replace the loss of the local facilities over the Newmarket-Thetford route, Suffolk County Council supported a new service numbered 200 commencing the following day (Monday 24 May) which travelled via Red Lodge, Barton Mills, Mildenhall, (some trips also serving RAF Mildenhall), Lakenheath, Brandon (with some trips also serving Santon Downham). The service was initially advertised as operating for a three month trial period but it actually continued for a much longer period in varied formats.

The original contractor on the service was Cambus Limited and their subsidiary Millerbus although these operators only worked the service for the three month trial period and from Monday 6 September the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company took over operation.

Cambus/Millerbus employed Leyland National 2s on the service and here Millerbus 304 (PEX 620W) is seen on the A11 just after leaving Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0953 service from Thetford to Newmarket. This bus had been new to Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in April 1981 as their LN620 and passed to Cambus when ECOC was split up.

Wallace Arnold K845 HUM at the Travelodge, Barton Mills – Jul 1993 (200-16) (2)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 20:35:39 +0000

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Friday x July 1993 - Wallace Arnold Tours K845 HUM, a Jonckheere Deauville bodied Volvo B10M new in March 1993, seen parked at the Travelodge, Barton Mills.

The 1993 intake of coaches to the Wallace Arnold Tours fleet included 25 Van Hool Alizées (K801-825 HUM), 20 Jonckheere Deauvilles (K826-845 HUM) and a mere 5 from Plaxton (4 Premiere 350 K846-849 HUM and 1 Excalibur K850 HUM). Press reports had stated that Wallace Arnold was not happy with the quality of the 1992 deliveries of the then new Premiere and Excalibur models and as a result for 1993 the two Belgian builders got the lion's share of the orders.

Wallace Arnold K845 HUM at the Travelodge, Barton Mills – Jul 1993 (200-16)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 20:35:40 +0000

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Pathfinder Coaches Van Hool on the A11 at Barton Mills – 15 Aug 1993 (202-13)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 20:20:39 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 15 August 1993 (1832) – With Fiveways Roundabout in the background, a Van Hool bodied Volvo of Pathfinder Coaches of Chadwell Heath is seen heading westbound on the A11.

Following behind is Express Travel of Perth NXI 9005, a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1989, working the 1615 National Express service 597 from Lowestoft to London (Victoria). This coach had operated north from London during the morning, this daytime round trip worked in between overnight services from Scotland the previous night returning north in the coming hours.

Neal’s Travel F651 OHD on the A11 at Red Lodge – 26 Oct 1997 (375-13A)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 22:12:06 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 26 October 1997 – Neal’s Travel F651 OHD, a Duple 320 bodied DAF 2305 that had been new to Brown of East Grinstead in January 1989, seen heading westbound on the A11 at Red Lodge. Neal’s operated two such coaches registered F651/652 OHD.

Simonds of Botesdale 9983 PW (E306 OPR, XEL 941, E407 SEL) on the A11 at Red Lodge – 21 Jun 1998 (400-02)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Fri, 07 May 2021 19:05:34 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 21 June 1998 (0825) – Simonds of Botesdale 9983 PW seen travelling westbound on the A11 near Red Lodge.

A Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to Excelsior of Bournemouth in April 1988 registered E306 OPR. Reregistered by Excelsior to XEL 941 then E407 SEL.

Eastern Counties LT887 (EAH 887Y) on the old A11 at Barton Mills – 19 Aug 1984 (X846-21)

nobody@ipernity.com (David Slater (Spoddendale)) — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 20:00:48 +0000

David Slater (Spoddendale) has posted:

Sunday 19 August 1984 – Eastern Counties LT887 (EAH 887Y) seen passing Sandford’s Garden Centre on the old A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1420 Norwich to London National Express service 099.

It is one of the eight Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tigers new in February 1983 that wore the ‘Norfolk Flyer’ livery to operate services between Norfolk and London. They passed to Ambassador Travel when ECOC was split up in September 1984.

A car can just be seen entering the gate of Sandford’s Garden Centre which was a timing point on some of the coach services of Eastern Counties/National Express. Note the bus stop pole and sign. The ‘Norfolk Flyer’ didn’t stop here though.