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[[File:Thomas_Bantock.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Thomas Bantock (1823–1895)]]'''Thomas Bantock was born in 1823 in ''''s business had extensive cartage agreements with the village of Golspie, near InvernessOWW, GWR and BR throughout the son of Benjamin Bantock a gamekeeper (his mother was born in Suffolk). Though a prize-winning schoolboyBlack Country goods yards, he left school at 16 to be employed by the Trustees of the Duke of Bridgwater who had large interests in canals and collieries. It is possible that he worked also on the Caledonian Canal near his home as, although opened in 1822Severn Valley branch at [[Bewdley]], it had proved troublesome to operate. At the age of 26 he was sent to Wolverhampton to take charge of the Company’s interests there. Here he soon saw the potential for the transport of goods by railway rather than by canal [[Kidderminster]] and river. He married a local woman, Mary Dickinson, in 1852. They were to have ten children[[Stourport]].

In 1853 ==Early years==Bantock was born in 1823 in the village of Golspie, near Inverness, the son of Benjamin Bantock a gamekeeper (his mother was born in Suffolk). Though a prize-winning schoolboy, he became boatage agent left school at 16 to be employed by the Trustees of the recently completed [[Oxford Worcester Duke of Bridgwater who had large interests in canals and Wolverhampton Railway]] and then to collieries. It is possible that he worked on the [[Great Western Railway]] Caledonian Canal near his home as, although opened in 1855 dealing with canal wharf 1822, it had proved troublesome to rail transfersoperate. In 1858 At the age of 26 he set up a business as Thomas Bantock and Company with offices within was sent to Wolverhampton to take charge of the Great Western Railway station at [[Wolverhampton]]Company’s interests there. He was appointed as ‘carrier’ Here he soon saw the potential for the Wolverhampton District. The agency was for: ‘carriage transport of rail-borne goods by road less railway rather than 40 miles along a route taken between places within a 25 mile radius of Wolverhampton Low Level Station’by canal and river. He was paid married a percentage of the GWR charge to customers. The cartage agentslocal woman, as later referred toMary Dickinson, in 1852. They were required to provide suitable vehicles, in an approved livery, horses and harness have ten children.<ref name=PoBH>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/listed/bantock/bantock03.htm historywebsite.co.uk] The People of Bantock House by Peter Hickman with Marion Dance and employ civil, energetic men to the GWR Company’s satisfaction.Gillian Webb (retrieved 18 June 2024)</ref>

In 1860 Bantock owned 51 canal boats working from GW/OWW transfer wharves on was a liberal supporter who was elected to the Birmingham Canal Navigations Wolverhampton Town Council in 1861 for St Marys Ward (BCNa poor community). In 1861 he He was still the Duke one of a group of Bridgwater’s Trustees District agent too. Bantock boats men from Queen Street Congregational Church who were based throughout the Black Country including 5 boats at Stourbridge (1858 to 1956) and 3 at [[Stourport]]. The Great Western had its own narrow boats working on the BCN concerned with their children’s education and started Tettenhall College in 1866 Bantock hired 16 boats from the GWR at £15 per month1862 for those of tender means. Thomas Bantock and Company expanded their interests becoming an ironmasterHe moved with his family to Merridale House, coal mining (Ettingshall Lodge Collierya former 18th century farmhouse, Springvale 1865-90), and boat builder at Ettingshall Dockone mile west of Wolverhampton town centre in 1864, Millfieldsmaking big improvements. They built for themselves and He never forgot his Scottish roots keeping a small herd of Highland cattle in the GWR completing 116 boats by 1895grounds. They were said to have built their own railway wagons at He was made mayor of Wolverhampton in 1869 where he was instrumental in the same works. The Company offices were now based at building of the rear of Albion Wharf at Herbert Free Library in Garrick Street, Wolverhampton.<ref name=PoBH/>

==Railway cartage agreements from 1853==Thomas Bantock & Co Ltd was a liberal supporter who was elected one of the GWR's earliest cartage agents and by far the longest serving. In 1853 he became boatage agent to the recently completed [[Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Town Council Railway]] and then to the [[Great Western Railway]] in 1861 for St Marys Ward (1855 dealing with canal wharf to rail transfers. In 1858 he set up a poor community)business as Thomas Bantock and Company with offices within the Great Western Railway station at [[Wolverhampton]]. He was one appointed as 'carrier' for the Wolverhampton District. The agency was for: 'carriage of rail-borne goods by road less than 40 miles along a group of men from Queen Street Congregational Church who were concerned with their children’s education and started Tettenhall College in 1862 for those of tender means. He moved with his family to Merridale House, route taken between places within a former 18th century farmhouse, one 25 mile west radius of Wolverhampton town centre in 1864, making big improvementsLow Level Station'. He never forgot his Scottish routes keeping was paid a small herd percentage of Highland cattle in the groundsGWR charge to customers. He was made mayor of Wolverhampton in 1869 where he was instrumental The cartage agents, as later referred to, were required to provide suitable vehicles, in an approved livery, horses and harness and employ civil, energetic men to the building of the Free Library in Garrick StreetGWR Company's satisfaction.<ref name=Atkins2019>[[Bibliography#Other References|Atkins, GWR Goods Cartage Vol 2 (2019)]] p. 68.</ref>

Thomas In 1860 Bantock expanded his cartage agreements with owned 51 canal boats working from GW/OWW transfer wharves on the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN). In 1861 he was still the GWR to include most Duke of Bridgwater's Trustees District agent too. Bantock boats were based throughout the Black Country goods yards and also [[Bewdley]], [[Kidderminster]] including 5 boats at Stourbridge (1858 to 1956) and 3 at [[Stourport]]. Haulage was, of course, all by horse with stables The Great Western had its own narrow boats working on the BCN and, sometimes, offices for Bantock’s staff at the busier yards. In 1878 various horse drawn vehicles were bought by in 1866 Bantock hired 16 boats from the GWR from Bantocks for £150at £15 per month. These included 1 open dray Thomas Bantock and 1 covered dray at BewdleyCompany expanded their interests becoming an ironmaster, 2 open drays and I covered van from Stourport and 18 open drayscoal mining (Ettingshall Lodge Colliery, 2 covered wagonsSpringvale 1865-90), 1 parcel van and 1 float from Kidderminsterboat builder at Ettingshall Dock, Millfields. No horses or harnesses were acquired as They built for themselves and the GWR had their owncompleting 116 boats by 1895. However, Bantock's continued They were said to operate have built their own horses and vehicles railway wagons at the same works. The Company offices were now based at most the rear of these placesAlbion Wharf at Herbert Street, Wolverhampton. <ref name=Atkins2019/>

Bewdley – now Mrs S.E. Woodward of The George Hotel, Load Street.<ref group="note">Sarah Elizabeth Woodward (née Lund) was England's first female county or borough councillor, elected for Bewdley in 1907.</ref> She also operated a [[Bewdley bus services|horse and trap ]] to meet passenger services.<br>

==Later years==Thomas Bantock’s Bantock's second son, Albert Baldwin Bantock, became a partner in 1886. He had been born in 1862 and was to become mayor of Wolverhampton three times. He ran the Company after his father’s death on 20 July 1895 at Merridale House. He himself died in 1938 but the Company was to continue until after nationalisation. By then it was almost fully motorised although they were still using horses and wagons to move carpets from the manufacturers at Kidderminster to the Goods Warehouse at Kidderminster Goods Yard into the early 1950s. They were finally bought out by the Western Region of British Railways on 13 December 1953. 140 vehicles were acquired mostly Fordsons and Scammels. Merridale House and grounds were left to the people of Wolverhampton and it is now known as Bantock House which includes a museum featuring the family. There are a number of canal boats which survive (including those owned by the GWR) and a few cartage vehicles. ==See also==[[Businesses located at SVR stations]]

==See alsoLinks==*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bantock Thomas Bantock on Wikipedia] *[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/listed/bantock/bantock03.htm The People of Bantock House] on historywebsite.co.uk*[https://darley135.blogspot.com/2012/03/thomas-bantock-company-wolverhampton.html Darley’s Daily Dawdle] [[Category:Featured articles]]