Keith Turton's Private Owner wagon's in Warwickshire

Photograph Reference: kt619

WR Robinson & Co Coal Merchants Kenilworth & Leamington No 2.

WILLIAM ROBINSON

Recently married in 1881 to Eliza Bradley and living with his in-laws John and Catherine Bradley in Sun Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch at age 21 he was employed as a colliery clerk. This suggests the Moira Colliery Company, which had its then headquarters in that village and displayed its home base on its wagon sides. Robinson himself was born in nearby Woodville.

By 1889 he had moved to 16 Regent Street, Leamington and set up business as a coal merchant.. His first offspring, daughter Mabel and son Henry were born in n nearby Newhall in 1883 and `1885, indicating an earlier change of address, three further sons were born in 1889, 1891 and 1893 and carrying on business as a coal merchant, based at both Leamington and Kenilworth.

Robinson operated small fleet of wagons, those registered with the Great Western Railway were:

18/12/1893	2	Midland
12/11/1900	1	Gloucester
11/9/1901	2 - 7	Gloucester

The Gloucester wagons were painted lead colour with white letters shaded black and black vertical ironwork , five planks, side doors, intrernal diagonals and measuring 15'6" x 6'11" x 3'1" Once again there is no explanation for the duplicated wagon number. It is unlikely that they travelled further than the Warwickshire coalfield.

Keith Turton

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