Catalogue description HEBBLE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, HALIFAX

Hebble Motor Services Ltd, Halifax

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Accession Number(s): 1891

Date(s) of accession: 19 Aug 1999

Oliver and Charles Holdsworth worked in the family business of corn and carting which expanded into many towns, and they founded the Hebble Bus Company, which started running services from Commercial Street, Halifax on 1 December 1924. Their first services went to Brighouse via Southowram and to Bingley via Denholme. The company flourished during the General Strike employing non-union labour and extending its services as far as Manchester and Leeds. In 1929, the Holdsworth brothers sold the business to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, which took over 72 buses, and Halifax Borough Council transferred 7 routes to the new joint committee. In 1930, the name was changed to Hebble Motor Services. In 1974, Hebble Motor Services and Sheffield United Tours were merged to form National Travel (North-East), later National Travel (East).

Charles Holdsworth [1883-1964] was Mayor of Halifax [1947-1949] and a pioneer of the British road transport industry. He started Trent Oil Products as well and was a founder of Jet Petroleum, which he sold to an American concern in 1961. He and his brother also founded O and C Estates Ltd, which still owns part of Halifax town centre today