Burnley Corporation Bus Routes
Burnley Corporation Tramways and Omnibuses first bus route operated from Abel St to the Cattle Market in March 1924. This route was later extended to operate through to Towneley, Rock Lane via Branch Road in October 1924. Services later commenced at Reedley Halt and terminated at BoggartBridge, Towneley by October 1927. In fact in June 1932 it was reported that four separate services operated between Reedley Halt and Towneley, BoggartBridge. These were:-
Abel Street - Boggart Bridge
Reedley Halt - Towneley Tram Terminus
Reedley Halt - Boggart Bridge
Abel Street - Hufling Lane
Burnley Corporation's second bus, CW 5108 a 1924 Leyland A13 with Knape B25RP body.
In August 1924 the General Manager, Henry Mozley submitted a report to the Tramways Committee on the suitability of four routes for omnibus services. They were not adopted.
On 19th August 1925 Mr. Mozley submitted a further report to the Tramways Committee following the obtaining of powers under the Burnley Corporation Act of 1925 to run omnibuses outside the Borough of Burnley within a radius of three and a half miles from BurnleyTown Hall.
The following services were proposed: -
Route No. 1 - Between Nelson Railway Station and Loveclough Tram Terminus, via Marsden Road, QueenVictoria Road, Ormerod Road, Church Street, Burnley Centre, Trafalgar Street, Sandygate, Coal Clough Lane and Summit.
Route No. 2 - Between Worsthorne and Habergham, via the Ridge, Burnley Centre, Trafalgar, Sandygate, Barracks Road, Gannow Lane, Lowerhouse Lane and Scott St.
Route No. 3 - Between Holmes Chapel and Wheatley Lane, via Walk Mill, Towneley, Finsley Gate, Burnley Centre, Market Street, Standish Street, Bank Top Station, Curzon Street, Canning Street, Daneshouse Road, Abel Street, New Hall Street, Reedley Hallows Halt and Fence.
Route No. 4 - A circular route from Burnley Centre via Trafalgar Street, Sandygate, Barracks Road, Gannow Lane, Rossendale Road, Accrington Road, Lane Ends, Hapton, Padiham Tramway Terminus, Moor Lane, Higham, Fence, Reedley Hallows, New Hall Street, Abel Street, Canning Street, Bank Top Station, Standish Street and Burnley Centre.
Route No. 5 - Between Burnley Centre and Holmes Chapel, via Church Street, Ormerod Road, The Ridge, Mereclough and Overtown.
Route No. 6 - Between Summit and Habergham (Scott Street) via Rossendale Road and Lowerhouse Lane.
Route No. 7 - Between Roggerham, Hurstwood, Deerplay and the Collieries for Workpeople and Pleasure Parties by spare buses.
Map of the proposed routes
The Burnley News. 22nd August 1925 reports the commencement of an additional experimental 'bus service between the Cattle Market and Gretna and the Cattle Market and Lowerhouse. Firstly a report on the new 'bus reads;
"The new 'bus intended for the Coal Clough Route (Cattle Market to Gretna Green) has arrived in Burnley and was given a trial trip yesterday with chairman of the Committee (Coun. Luke Thornber) and the manager of the Tramways (Henry Mozley) on board.
Today I understand the bus will be put into regular service. It will prove a great boon to residents in the Coal Clough area especially in the dinner and tea hours."
The published timetable is as follows:
BURNLEY CORPORATION TRAMWAYS & OMNIBUSES
ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTAL OMNIBUS SERVICE
GRETNA - CATTLE MARKET30mins
LOWERHOUSE - CATTLE MARKET40mins
Commencing Sat. 22 August one bus on each route will run on weekdays only, as follows: -
CATTLE MARKET / GRETNA / CATTLE MARKET / LOWERHOUSE (KNOTTS LANE)6.45am and every half hour until 11.15pm / 7.00am and every half hour until 12.00 midnight / 6.40am and every 40 mins until 10.40pm / 7.00am and every 40 mins until 11.00pm
Sats only: until 11.45pm / Sats only until 11.20pm / Sats until 11.40pm
Leaves depot at 6.25am / Return to Abel St Depot / Leaves depot at 6.20am / Return to Depot via Abel Street
Whilst ever endeavour will be made to maintain these services the Corporation do not hold themselves responsible for any failure to do so.
Parcels are carried on the 'buses on the same terms & conditions as on the tramways.
by order
General Offices, Queensgate Henry Mozley
Burnley 17th August 1925 Gen. Manager
On 9th February 1926 a revised diagram of the proposed routes was published showing a extension of route 2 to Dean Brow, Padiham. (Possibly just past Memorial Park on the Whalley Road at a point three and a half miles from BurnleyTown Hall)
Revised Diagram.
Nothing is known at present as to the reasons none of the proposed routes came into operation (with the exception of route 5) but on 24th September 1926 four new routes commenced. Routes 2-4 operated between Burnley Centre (Parker Lane) and PadihamMemorial Park via St. James' St., Manchester Rd., Trafalgar, Sandygate, Coal Clough Lane, Rossendale Road, Accrington Road, Hapton, Stonemoor Bottom, Hapton Rd., Green Lane, and Padiham Centre.
Route 2 possibly the full journey from Burnley Centre to Padiham Memorial Park
Route 3 possibly a short working to Hapton (for the coal miners) and may have commenced in Stoneyholme.
Route 4 possibly a short working to Gretna or Rossendale Road/Accrington Road junction.
Route 4a was an extension commencing at Stroyan Street, Brunshaw.
Route 5 commenced from Burnley (Bank top Station) via Railway St., Curzon St., Bankhouse St., School Lane, Ormerod Rd., The Ridge, Brunshaw Rd., Mereclough, Overtown to Holmes Chapel.
Route 1 was of course Reedley Halt to Towneley
Photo:- Leyland Lion heading for Padiham passing Leyland A13 on the railway bridge at the junction of Coal Clough Lane with Sandygate.
From October 30th, 1927, Sunday Services were amended to commence at 9-0am instead of 2-0pm. Routes listed are:-
Reedley - BoggartBridge, Towneley
Ashley Street (Stoneyholme) - Rossendale Road (Junction with Coal Clough Lane)
Hollins - Scott Street (Whitegate)
By 1928 route 2 had been extended to operate from The Hollins (between Pike Hill and Higher Red Lees) and Padiham.(In the light of further information it is possible that this route was extended to Holmes Chapel and route 5 was cancelled).
In May 1928 a new service was announced between Harle Syke and Lane Bottom, actually between the tram terminus at the Commercial Hotel and the junction of Halifax Road with Winewall Road (possibly the road now known as Robin House Road). This service was intended to connect with the Nelson - Haggate service operated by Nelson Corporation.
Image of original timetable
On March 18th 1929 Henry Mozley again put forward proposals for revisions of Omnibus services as follows:-
Route 1 - Stoneyholme (Ashley St.) to Rosegrove (Accrington Road) via Rectory Rd., Curzon St., Railway St., Newcastle St., Cuerden St., Curzon St., Hammerton St., Hargreaves St., Manchester Rd., Trafalgar St., Sandygate., Coal Clough Lane, Rossendale Rd.
Route 2 - The Hollins to Padiham (Memorial Park) via Brunshaw Rd., Ridge Ave., Ormerod Rd., Church St., Burnley centre, Manchester Rd., Trafalgar St., Sandygate, Barracks Rd., Gannow Lane, Lowerhouse Lane, Mill St., Scott St., Tramway route and Burnley Rd. Padiham.
Route 3 - Reedley Halt to Towneley (Boggart Bridge) via Barden Lane, New Hall St., Abel St., Daneshouse Rd., Brougham St., Canning St., Curzon St., Hammerton St., Hargreaves St., Grimshaw St., Parker Lane, Finsley Gate, Parliament St., Branch Rd., Hufling Lane, Brooklands Rd., Todmorden rd., Boggart Bridge (turning circle).
Route 3a - Abel Street to Hufling Lane (same route as above except outward via Hollingreave Rd.)
Route 4 - Marsden Road (Borough Boundary) to Summit via Marsden Rd., Lanehead, Briercliffe Rd., Melville St., Ennismore St., QueenVictoria Rd., Belvedere Rd., Yorkshire St., Burnley Centre, Manchester Rd., Trafalgar St., Sandygate, Coal Clough lane, Rossendale Rd., Glen View Rd., Summit, reverse Reynolds St.
Route 5 - Lyndhurst Rd. to Bank Top Station (This proposal cancelled)
Route 6 - Reynolds St. (Summit) to Kidrow Lane (This proposal cancelled)
Map of proposed Routes
Important changes in the omnibus services came into operation during April 1929 following the proposals made in March.
The Marsden Road - Summit service commenced running 1st April to 30th April 1929 and then extended to become Marsden Cross - Rosegrove.
The Holme - Padiham service now runs from Hollins only as from 1st April 1929 and the Stoneyholme - Hapton service now runs to Rosegrove (Accrington Road) only as from 1st April.
The Stoneyholme - Padiham (via Hapton) service was withdrawn 1st April.
The increase in omnibus traffic is noted to have caused a reduction in tram operation on the Harle Syke - Rosegrove and Nelson - Padiham services.
In October 1929 the following routes are recorded: -
No. 1 Stoneyholme (Ashley St.) - Rosegrove (Accrington Road) via Curzon St., St. James' St., Manchester Rd., Trafalgar, Sandygate, Coal Clough lane, Gretna, Rossendale Rd.
No. 2 The Hollins - Padiham Memorial Park via Ridge Ave., Ormerod Rd., Church St., Burnley Centre., Manchester Rd.,
Trafalgar St., Sandygate, Barracks Rd., Gannow Lane, Rosegrove, Lowerhouse and Padiham Bridge.
No. 3 Reedley Halt - Towneley via Branch Rd. (Certain outward journeys via Hollingreave Rd.)
No. 4 Marsden Cross - Rosegrove (Accrington Road) via Marsden Road, Briercliffe Road, Melville St., Queen Victoria Rd., Belvedere Rd., Burnley Centre, Manchester Rd., Trafalgar, Sandygate, Coal Clough Lane, Gretna, (or Cog Lane, Venice Avenue), Rossendale Rd.
Also Rosegrove (Owen St.) to Nelson (Market Square) via Rossendale Rd., Coal Clough Lane, Burnley Centre,
Belvedere Rd., Melville St., Lane Head and Marsden Cross. (Jointly operated with Nelson Corporation)
Lane Bottom Special: Lane Head - Harle Syke - Haggate - Lanebottom.(N.B. This may have replaced the previous service announced in May 1928)
A limited stop service was introduced at sometime between 1929 and 1931 from the North Borough Boundary (The Oaks, Reedley) to the Summit. No more information is available at present except that the service was discontinued on 18th October 1931.
Also in 1931 the bus service between Reedley and Towneley was modified by arranging for alternate buses to run between Reedley and Towneley Tram terminus and Abel Street and TowneleyBoggartBridge.
Following road improvements at the junction of Cog Lane and Coal Clough Lane (Gretna) it was found possible to divert alternate buses on the Marsden Cross - Rosegrove service through Stoops Estate.
A Harle Syke to Rosegrove service was introduced in 1932 to replace the tram service which ceased on April 4th.
The above photo is believed to have been taken in 1932 on the first day of the tram replacement on the Harle Syke - Rosegrove service.
Another route (number not known) introduced in May 1932 was as follows: - Colne (Heifer Lane) to Padiham (Memorial Park), a half - hourly limited stop service.
Also the Rosegrove to Marsden Cross route was extended to the Market Place, Nelson and jointly operated with Nelson Corporation.
No. 50, a 1932 Crossley Condor with Brush centre entrance body, one of a pair that were the first diesel engined buses (and the last buses) purchased by Burnley Corporation. They were apparently unreliable and the chassis of both buses were sold to Rochdale Corporation in 1936.The bodies were transferred to two new AEC Regents also numbered 50 & 51.
Examination of the Traffic Returns for April 1933 shows that the following bus routes were in operation in April 1932: -
Reedley Halt to Towneley
Hollins to Padiham
Marsden Cross to Rosegrove
Abel Street to Hufling Lane (Relief Working)
Melville Street to Rosegrove
Harle Syke to Rosegrove
(N.B. No Route Numbers were specified)