An Invoice
Recently, I came across this invoice for sale on eBay. I was intrigued by the proprietor’s name and the location of the Kirkby Office. So, I decided to buy it even though I did not know precisely what it was!
Forest Motor Company
The business issuing the invoice was Forest Motor Company. I don’t believe I have encountered them before. I came across records for a company by this name registered in Nottingham. However, it was only formed in 1953 and worked in the area of maintaining and repairing vehicles. It was dissolved in 2013. I am not convinced it is the same company.
Forest Motor Company was listed as carriers in East Kirkby in Kelly’s Directory in both 1928 and 1941. The 1928 entry gives their address as Forest Hill and in 1941 as Diamond Avenue. Both Forest Hill and Diamond Avenue refer to the same road. Between 1934 and 1954 at least, telephone directories listed Forest Motor Company as having the same telephone number as on the invoice, East Kirkby 2235. The address in those directories is given as Forest Hill. In 1933, their number was given as East Kirkby 135.
It seems that the company may have been in existence in 1922 as the Mansield Reporter of 17 February 1922 included a report of a court case against them. The case was brought by paper merchants Leon Kirk and Co from Nuncargate. They were represented by Mr Massey while Mr H P Marchant appeared for Forest Motors. The judge found in favour of the defendants.
The Proprietor Was A Evans
The invoice lists the proprietor of Forest Motor Company as A Evans and I am wondering if this was my grandfather’s brother-in-law Arthur Evans. In 1939, he was living at 160 Diamond Avenue and he was listed as the owner of a haulage company.
The Company Had a Kirkby Base on Diamond Avenue
The invoice lists the company’s private address as Diamond Avenue in East Kirkby. Sadly, it does not give the street number but it is conceivable that it was Arthur Evans at one of the properties that now form 160-164 Diamond Avenue.
The Company Had a Nottingham Depot
The invoice refers to the company having a Nottingham depot at 32b Shakespeare Street. It appears that this is now student accommodation given its proximity to Nottingham Trent University. Although there is a new building on one side, this one seems to date to 1906 according to the date plaque.
I have checked in the Kelly’s Directory for 1928 and 1941 and have not found any entry for this company in Nottingham. However, in the 1941 Directory, under entries for Shakespeare Street, there are entries for North Sherwood Street. There is an entry for 32b. One of the occupants listed there is a carriers depot with Mr E Grady as manager.
The Invoice is Addressed to A Marriott and Co
There is no entry for this company in East Kirkby in the 1941 Kelly’s Directory. I did find an entry for A Marriott and Co, paper merchants, at 9 St Mary’s Place Nottingham. This seems to be the location of what is now Nottingham Buddhist Centre.
Was the Invoice for Coal Delivery?
I am not entirely sure what the invoice was for but given the quantities are in weights, I wondered if it was for coal. However, why a paper merchants would be invoiced for coal deliveries to other companies is beyond me! Could it be some kind of paper or cardboard delivery but would that be measured by weight?
The weights are in hundredweights (cwts) and pounds (lbs). For some reason, there were 112 pounds in a hundredweight. A hundredweight was eight stone and each stone was 14 pounds. “qrs” stands for quarters which denote a quarter of a hundredweight or two stone.
Towards the bottom of the invoice there is an entry which sumamrises the total amount supplied as 8 cwt 3 qrs. It then seems to convert this to a price which may be seven shillings. If the price was 10d per hundredweight, the cost to deliver 8.75 hundredweight would be just over seven shillings.
Twice Daily Between Nottingham and Worksop
The invoice indicates that trips were made twice daily between Nottingham and Worksop. I assume this relates to transport of goods rather than any sort of bus. I do not know if such regular journeys for goods were made by carriers at that time.
Delivery Locations
The invoice lists a number of companies or people that appear to be delivery locations. These include the Sherwood Box Company in Sutton (x2), Hampshire in Mansfield (x3), Sutton Printing Company and W H Lee in Mansfield.
Sherwood Box Company
The Sherwood Box Company operated from a former Primitive Methodist Chapel in Reform Street, Sutton between approximately 1929 and 1981/2. The building still stands and bears their sign. Intriguingly on the Ashfield Community Pages, there are a number of photos showing cardboard being delivered to them by lorry.
Hampshire and Sons
According to the 1941 Kelly’s Directory, Hampshire and Sons were printers in Meeting House Lane. I think this may refer to John Henry Hampshire. One of his sons was Samuel Harry Hampshire who was killed in the first world war. Based on probate records, it seems that one of the other sons was John Herbert Victor Hampshire. Three other sons listed in the 1901 census were Joseph C, Albert A and Arthur W.
Sutton Printing Company
I am assuming that Sutton Ptg Co refers to Sutton Printing Company. According to the 1941 Kelly’s Directory, they were based in Fox Street.
W H Lee and Sons
According to the 1941 Kelly’s Directory, W H Lee and Sons were another printers in Woodcock’s Yard, Stockwell Gate, Mansfield. I believe this is a reeference to Walter Haslam Lee. In addition to being a printer, he was a Primitive Methodist local preacher for 45 years. He had four sons, William Stocks, George Henry, Herbert Louis and Arthur Walter. At least William and Arthur worked in the printing business.
Auditors’ Stamp
The invoice bears the stamp of the auditors Prior and Palmer based in Nottingham. According to the 1941 Kelly’s Directory, this relates to accountants Fred A Prior and Edward Harry Palmer. They had offices in Bridlesmith Gate and 125 Melton Road.
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