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On 10 March 2020, ownership of Hulleys was transferred to company driver Alf Crofts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hulleys of Baslow reach their centenary |url=https://derbyshirevch.org/2021/10/hulleys-of-baslow-reach-their-centenary/ |publisher=Derbyshire Victoria County History |access-date=24 March 2025 |date=2 October 2021}}</ref> The company's coaching operations were withdrawn during 2020 due to the financial impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in England|COVID-19 pandemic]]. A year later in April 2021, Hulleys celebrated its centenary with the launch of the [[X57 Snake]] service between [[Sheffield]] and [[Manchester]] via the [[Snake Pass]], the purchase of a new vehicle and the painting of existing vehicles in heritage liveries.<ref name="CBWWelch" /><ref name="Buses795">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/focus-11 |title=Fleet in focus: Hulleys of Baslow |magazine=[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]] |issue=795 |page=83 |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |date=12 May 2021 |access-date=24 March 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
On 10 March 2020, ownership of Hulleys was transferred to company driver Alf Crofts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hulleys of Baslow reach their centenary |url=https://derbyshirevch.org/2021/10/hulleys-of-baslow-reach-their-centenary/ |publisher=Derbyshire Victoria County History |access-date=24 March 2025 |date=2 October 2021}}</ref> The company's coaching operations were withdrawn during 2020 due to the financial impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in England|COVID-19 pandemic]]. A year later in April 2021, Hulleys celebrated its centenary with the launch of the [[X57 Snake]] service between [[Sheffield]] and [[Manchester]] via the [[Snake Pass]], the purchase of a new vehicle and the painting of existing vehicles in heritage liveries.<ref name="CBWWelch" /><ref name="Buses795">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/focus-11 |title=Fleet in focus: Hulleys of Baslow |magazine=[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]] |issue=795 |page=83 |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |date=12 May 2021 |access-date=24 March 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>


===Demise===
===<ref>Interview with Crofts, Alfred (may be verified by contacting him) (29 May 2025)</ref>Demise===
In December 2023, Hulleys of Baslow purchased [[Kent]]-based independent operator [[Go-Coach]] of [[Swanley]] from owner Austin Blackburn via a deferred consideration deal which overvalued the aging Go-Coach fleet. The branding of Go-Coach's fleet and routes remained separate from the main Hulley operation, and on 28 February 2025, after over a year of ownership, Austin Blackburn realised that due to the inflated valuation of the fleet, the deal put together by Knowles Warwick (then accountants for both parties) would mean that Blackburn wouldn’t get the expected £1.6m return. Crofts’ health was failing following a stroke and heart attack, and so Hulleys sold Go-Coach back to Austin Blackburn.<ref>{{cite news |title=Go-Coach back in ownership of Austin Blackburn as RB6s ordered |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/go-coach-back-in-ownership-of-austin-blackburn-as-rb6s-ordered/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=routeone |date=24 March 2025}}</ref>
In late 2023, Hulleys of Baslow purchased [[Kent]]-based independent operator [[Go-Coach]] of [[Swanley]] from owner Austin Blackburn. The branding of Go-Coach's fleet and routes remained separate from the main Hulleys operation, and on 28 February 2025, after over a year of ownership, Hulleys had sold Go-Coach back to Austin Blackburn through a [[management buyout]] performed by Blackburn.<ref>{{cite news |title=Go-Coach back in ownership of Austin Blackburn as RB6s ordered |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/go-coach-back-in-ownership-of-austin-blackburn-as-rb6s-ordered/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=routeone |date=24 March 2025}}</ref>


Following a period of poor performance on 2 [[Derbyshire County Council]] tendered bus services (the 63 and 172) resulting in the company being stripped of these contracts, however, following a period of lost mileage (many Hulleys staff reported that a Traffic Controller who once worked for Austin Blackburn had called buses back to the garage for inexplicable reasons over a period of up to 6 weeks to deliberately disrupt services - it had been further alleged that they had been on holiday together in Malta and that Blackburn - as revenge for losing money on the sale of Go-Coach had paid the Hulleys Controller to sabotage the Company’s operation) and so as a result of the lost mileage Derbyshire County Council withdrew all contracts from Hulleys. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Bisknell |first1=Eddie |title=Derbyshire council scraps four bus service contracts – after provider found to be continually unreliable |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/derbyshire-council-scraps-four-bus-service-contracts-after-provider-found-to-be-continually-unreliable-5042840 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Derbyshire Times |date=20 March 2025}}</ref> it was announced on 24 March 2025 that after 104 years of service, Hulleys of Baslow was to cease operations on 26 March, with an [[insolvency practitioner]] being appointed to help close down the company.<ref name="ROClosure">{{cite news |title=Hulleys of Baslow announces closure after over a century of service |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/hulleys-of-baslow-announces-closure-after-over-a-century-of-service/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=routeone |date=25 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peat |first1=Chris |title=Hulleys of Baslow to cease trading |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/hulleys-of-baslow-to-cease-trading/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=25 March 2025}}</ref> On 25 March, a day earlier than planned, Hulleys ceased operations in the mid-afternoon with vehicles called back to the Baslow depot by the same Controller responsible for the lost mileage, a stand-off between numerous parties, including drivers who incorrectly claimed they had lost wages and such payments as a result of the company's closure, took place at the Hulleys depot, with police being called after access to the depot was blocked by recovery vehicles from Mount Pleasant Recovery.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wrzyszcz |first1=Wiktoria |title=Derbyshire buses: Police arrive as lorries block Hulleys of Baslow premises in the Peak District – amid payment row |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/derbyshire-buses-police-arrive-as-lorries-block-hulleys-of-baslow-premises-in-the-peak-district-amid-payment-row-5051230 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Derbyshire Times |date=25 March 2025}}</ref>Also Mr Crofts had his car keys stolen and he was prevented from leaving his office by Mount Pleasant staff.
Following a period of poor performance on four [[Derbyshire County Council]] tendered bus services, resulting in the company being stripped of their contracts once re-tendering had taken place,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bisknell |first1=Eddie |title=Derbyshire council scraps four bus service contracts – after provider found to be continually unreliable |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/derbyshire-council-scraps-four-bus-service-contracts-after-provider-found-to-be-continually-unreliable-5042840 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Derbyshire Times |date=20 March 2025}}</ref> it was announced on 24 March 2025 that after 103 years of service, Hulleys of Baslow was to cease operations on 26 March, with an [[insolvency practitioner]] being appointed to help close down the company.<ref name="ROClosure">{{cite news |title=Hulleys of Baslow announces closure after over a century of service |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/hulleys-of-baslow-announces-closure-after-over-a-century-of-service/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=routeone |date=25 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peat |first1=Chris |title=Hulleys of Baslow to cease trading |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/hulleys-of-baslow-to-cease-trading/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=25 March 2025}}</ref> On 25 March, a day earlier than planned, Hulleys ceased operations in the early afternoon with vehicles called back to the Baslow depot; a stand-off between numerous parties, including drivers who had lost wages and such payments as a result of the company's closure, took place at the Hulleys depot, with police being called after access to the depot was blocked by recovery vehicles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wrzyszcz |first1=Wiktoria |title=Derbyshire buses: Police arrive as lorries block Hulleys of Baslow premises in the Peak District – amid payment row |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/derbyshire-buses-police-arrive-as-lorries-block-hulleys-of-baslow-premises-in-the-peak-district-amid-payment-row-5051230 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Derbyshire Times |date=25 March 2025}}</ref>


Derbyshire County Council subsequently awarded local operators, including Andrews of Tideswell (where the buses and Drivers went to the same afternoon, again organised by the same Controller who was then rewarded with a highly-paid Controller position at Andrews) Ashbourne Community Transport and [[Stagecoach Yorkshire]], tenders to replace services that had been operated by Hulleys.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Winter |first1=Jude |title=New operators found for bus company going bust |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c984znglnm2o |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2025}}</ref> It was initially announced that [[High Peak Buses]] were to replace commercial service 170, running between Chesterfield and Bakewell, however High Peak pulled out of the replacement scheme after Stagecoach Yorkshire had also been approved to run a competing commercial service, which differed only by not serving [[Chesterfield Royal Hospital]] and [[Holymoorside]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hardwick |first1=Tom |title=Independent operator withdraws plans to run 170 services between Chesterfield and Bakewell – leaving village without buses |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/politics/independent-operator-withdraws-plans-to-run-170-services-between-chesterfield-and-bakewell-leaving-village-without-buses-5052453 |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=Derbyshire Times |date=26 March 2025}}</ref>
Derbyshire County Council subsequently awarded local operators, including Andrews of Tideswell, Ashbourne Community Transport and [[Stagecoach Yorkshire]], tenders to replace services that had been operated by Hulleys.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Winter |first1=Jude |title=New operators found for bus company going bust |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c984znglnm2o |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2025}}</ref> It was initially announced that [[High Peak Buses]] were to replace commercial service 170, running between Chesterfield and Bakewell, however High Peak pulled out of the replacement scheme after Stagecoach Yorkshire had also been approved to run a competing commercial service, which differed only by not serving [[Chesterfield Royal Hospital]] and [[Holymoorside]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hardwick |first1=Tom |title=Independent operator withdraws plans to run 170 services between Chesterfield and Bakewell – leaving village without buses |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/politics/independent-operator-withdraws-plans-to-run-170-services-between-chesterfield-and-bakewell-leaving-village-without-buses-5052453 |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=Derbyshire Times |date=26 March 2025}}</ref>


==Services==
==Services==
At the time of ceasing operations in March 2025, Hulleys operated a wide network of services, centred around linking Peak District towns and villages with Sheffield, Chesterfield and Bakewell, as well as networks serving [[Ashbourne, Derbyshire|Ashbourne]], [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]] and surrounding areas.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
At the time of ceasing operations in March 2025, Hulleys operated a wide network of services, centred around linking Peak District towns and villages with Sheffield, Chesterfield and Bakewell, as well as networks serving [[Ashbourne, Derbyshire|Ashbourne]], [[Glossop]], [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]] and surrounding areas.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}


In October 2022, the firm took over operation of routes 48 and 49, running from [[Clay Cross]] to [[Brampton, Derbyshire|Brampton]] and [[Bolsover]] or [[Clowne]] respectively, from fellow independent [[TM Travel]]. Upon launch, some afternoon services on the 48 were extended to run to Wigley from Brampton's [[Morrisons]] superstore.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hardwick |first=Tom |date=12 September 2022 |title=Bus provider announces changes to services in Chesterfield and Derbyshire – with routes scrapped and timetables altered |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/transport/bus-provider-announces-changes-to-services-across-chesterfield-and-derbyshire-with-routes-scrapped-and-timetables-altered-3840467 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=Derbyshire Times |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2022, the firm took over operation of routes 48 and 49, running from [[Clay Cross]] to [[Brampton, Derbyshire|Brampton]] and [[Bolsover]] or [[Clowne]] respectively, from fellow independent [[TM Travel]]. Upon launch, some afternoon services on the 48 were extended to run to Wigley from Brampton's [[Morrisons]] superstore.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hardwick |first=Tom |date=12 September 2022 |title=Bus provider announces changes to services in Chesterfield and Derbyshire – with routes scrapped and timetables altered |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/transport/bus-provider-announces-changes-to-services-across-chesterfield-and-derbyshire-with-routes-scrapped-and-timetables-altered-3840467 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=Derbyshire Times |language=en}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:03, 30 May 2025

Hulleys of Baslow
MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE attending Showbus 2022 in Hertfordshire
Founded29 April 1921; 104 years ago (1921-04-29)
Defunct26 March 2025
HeadquartersBaslow, Derbyshire, England
Service areaDerbyshire
South Yorkshire
Service typeBus services
Routes16 (December 2014)
DestinationsBaslow, Bakewell, Matlock, Buxton, Chesterfield, Glossop, Sheffield
Fleet19 (March 2025)
Managing DirectorAlf Crofts
Websitehttps://hulleys-of-baslow.co.uk

Hulleys of Baslow was an independent bus company based in Baslow, Derbyshire, England.

History

Plaxton Centro bodied MAN 18.240 at Sheffield Interchange in October 2016

The origins of Hulleys can be traced back to 1914 when Henry Hulley purchased a Ford Model T and commenced running a taxi service based from Baslow. On 29 April 1921, a Ford Model T bus purchased by Henry Hulley began operating a service from Baslow to Chesterfield via Cutthorpe. In 1925 a service from Bakewell to Youlgreave commenced. By 1934, further growth through the acquisition of several small independent operators had seen the fleet expand to seven buses and coaches, with excursions operated to York, Skegness, Southport and Blackpool. A formal company named Henry Hulley & Sons Ltd was eventually founded on 25 January 1938.[1]

Founder Henry Hulley died in 1955, with the business passing his children and a coach being purchased in his memory. Hulleys' longstanding Baslow to Chesterfield service was withdrawn on 25 July 1970 due to falling passenger numbers, with routes serving Grindleford railway station, operated since 1939 following the takeover of Maurice Kenyon of Grindleford, also abandoned. On 7 August 1978, Jack, Ben and Nina Hulley, the children of Henry Hulley, sold Hulleys of Baslow to fellow independent coach operator JH Woolliscroft & Sons, who rebranded Hulleys as Silver Service and moved operations to their Darley Dale depot.[1]

On 10 March 2020, ownership of Hulleys was transferred to company driver Alf Crofts.[2] The company's coaching operations were withdrawn during 2020 due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A year later in April 2021, Hulleys celebrated its centenary with the launch of the X57 Snake service between Sheffield and Manchester via the Snake Pass, the purchase of a new vehicle and the painting of existing vehicles in heritage liveries.[1][3]

Demise

In late 2023, Hulleys of Baslow purchased Kent-based independent operator Go-Coach of Swanley from owner Austin Blackburn. The branding of Go-Coach's fleet and routes remained separate from the main Hulleys operation, and on 28 February 2025, after over a year of ownership, Hulleys had sold Go-Coach back to Austin Blackburn through a management buyout performed by Blackburn.[4]

Following a period of poor performance on four Derbyshire County Council tendered bus services, resulting in the company being stripped of their contracts once re-tendering had taken place,[5] it was announced on 24 March 2025 that after 103 years of service, Hulleys of Baslow was to cease operations on 26 March, with an insolvency practitioner being appointed to help close down the company.[6][7] On 25 March, a day earlier than planned, Hulleys ceased operations in the early afternoon with vehicles called back to the Baslow depot; a stand-off between numerous parties, including drivers who had lost wages and such payments as a result of the company's closure, took place at the Hulleys depot, with police being called after access to the depot was blocked by recovery vehicles.[8]

Derbyshire County Council subsequently awarded local operators, including Andrews of Tideswell, Ashbourne Community Transport and Stagecoach Yorkshire, tenders to replace services that had been operated by Hulleys.[9] It was initially announced that High Peak Buses were to replace commercial service 170, running between Chesterfield and Bakewell, however High Peak pulled out of the replacement scheme after Stagecoach Yorkshire had also been approved to run a competing commercial service, which differed only by not serving Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Holymoorside.[10]

Services

At the time of ceasing operations in March 2025, Hulleys operated a wide network of services, centred around linking Peak District towns and villages with Sheffield, Chesterfield and Bakewell, as well as networks serving Ashbourne, Glossop, Matlock and surrounding areas.[citation needed]

In October 2022, the firm took over operation of routes 48 and 49, running from Clay Cross to Brampton and Bolsover or Clowne respectively, from fellow independent TM Travel. Upon launch, some afternoon services on the 48 were extended to run to Wigley from Brampton's Morrisons superstore.[11]

The company previously operated the X57 Snake service which operated between Sheffield and Manchester via the mountainous Snake Pass. Launched on 25 October 2020 and initially operated 10 return trips on Mondays to Saturdays,[12] the service was soon withdrawn on 9 January 2022 due to low passenger numbers making the X57 financially unviable to run.[13]

Hulleys previously operated a number of summer weekend only express services which launched in March 2020 and linking Sheffield, Chesterfield and Bakewell to such attractions as Alton Towers and Carsington Water.[14][3]

Fleet

At the time of ceasing operations in March 2025, Hulleys of Baslow held an license authorising the operation of 19 buses,[6] most of which were single-deck buses. Among vehicles operated include an MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE, purchased during the company's centenary in 2021 as the first new Hulleys vehicle in ten years.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Welch, Jonathan (25 May 2021). "Peak Centenary". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Hulleys of Baslow reach their centenary". Derbyshire Victoria County History. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Fleet in focus: Hulleys of Baslow". Buses. No. 795. Stamford: Key Publishing. 12 May 2021. p. 83. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Go-Coach back in ownership of Austin Blackburn as RB6s ordered". routeone. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  5. ^ Bisknell, Eddie (20 March 2025). "Derbyshire council scraps four bus service contracts – after provider found to be continually unreliable". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Hulleys of Baslow announces closure after over a century of service". routeone. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  7. ^ Peat, Chris (25 March 2025). "Hulleys of Baslow to cease trading". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  8. ^ Wrzyszcz, Wiktoria (25 March 2025). "Derbyshire buses: Police arrive as lorries block Hulleys of Baslow premises in the Peak District – amid payment row". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  9. ^ Winter, Jude (26 March 2025). "New operators found for bus company going bust". BBC News. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  10. ^ Hardwick, Tom (26 March 2025). "Independent operator withdraws plans to run 170 services between Chesterfield and Bakewell – leaving village without buses". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  11. ^ Hardwick, Tom (12 September 2022). "Bus provider announces changes to services in Chesterfield and Derbyshire – with routes scrapped and timetables altered". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Hulleys launches new Manchester-Sheffield service". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  13. ^ Kessen, David (26 November 2021). "Sheffield buses: Hulleys to scrap Sheffield to Manchester X57 Snake Pass service". The Star. Sheffield. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  14. ^ Cumber, Robert (14 February 2020). "You'll soon be able to catch a bus from Sheffield to Alton Towers – here's what you need to know". The Star. Sheffield. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
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