Billingshurst

IN DEPTH
In the 1930’s, milk cooling stations were erected near many country railway stations to receive milk in churns from local farms and transport to London. Billingshurst had a total of 302 vehicles in 1935, read about some of the drivers who worked there, and the vehicles that they used.
VIDEOS
Fascinating 1955 video 'The Daily Round' made by Express to show the stages in milk production and transport from the farm to the doorstep. The first part shows milk being collected from Garlands Farm (between Rudgwick and Billingshurst) and taken for Billingshurst Creamery for cooling and onward transport to London.
Larger scale location map of Billingshurst Creamery (Courtesy Matthew Pinto)
Larger scale location map of Billingshurst Creamery (Courtesy Matthew Pinto)
1930's Billingshurst Creamery. Caption reads "In the 1930s cooling stations were erected near many country railway stations. Here a line up of Bedford collection lorries delivers to such a station on the Southern Railway in Sussex. In 1935 the Express Dairy fleet numbered 302 vehicles." Chris Austen comments "I spent a few weeks at Billingshurst in 1959; Derek Gray was the manager. Ex-farm milk was cooled using a brine cooler; one had to be very careful not to freeze the product - otherwise it would come cascading out of the cooling system!" (Courtesy Dave Fane)
1930's Billingshurst Creamery. Caption reads "In the 1930s cooling stations were erected near many country railway stations. Here a line up of Bedford collection lorries delivers to such a station on the Southern Railway in Sussex. In 1935 the Express Dairy fleet numbered 302 vehicles." Chris Austen comments "I spent a few weeks at Billingshurst in 1959; Derek Gray was the manager. Ex-farm milk was cooled using a brine cooler; one had to be very careful not to freeze the product - otherwise it would come cascading out of the cooling system!" (Courtesy Dave Fane)
1930's Compliments slip (King George V died in January 1936), showing the Express Creameries at that time: Appleby, Billingshurst, Faringdon, Horam, Rowsley, Frome, Seaton Junction, Leyburn and Brailsford. (Courtesy Keith Sweetland)
1930's Compliments slip (King George V died in January 1936), showing the Express Creameries at that time: Appleby, Billingshurst, Faringdon, Horam, Rowsley, Frome, Seaton Junction, Leyburn and Brailsford. (Courtesy Keith Sweetland)
1920's? Billingshurst Creamery, erected in the late 1920's, was the first country depot to be built by Express. Norman Dudman comments "Express Dairy was on the site now occupied by the flats at the end of Brookers Road. My uncle in the 1940s and 1950s delivered milk in churns to Express from Rosier and Daux farm, by horse and cart via Daux Road." Paul Bryant adds "After Express Dairy closed it was Beverly Engineering, there was still the loading bay when I worked there in the 1970-80's." Jeremy Bagley comments "My mum Elsie Howard, sister, worked at the dairy. An Italian POW also worked at the dairy, they married and went to live in Italy.". Nick Thompson added "My dad worked there for over 30 years. It closed down in 1965 when the milk collection went over to tanker rather than churns." Albie Napper comments "My Mum worked there too, Anne Gray".
1920's? Billingshurst Creamery, erected in the late 1920's, was the first country depot to be built by Express. Norman Dudman comments "Express Dairy was on the site now occupied by the flats at the end of Brookers Road. My uncle in the 1940s and 1950s delivered milk in churns to Express from Rosier and Daux farm, by horse and cart via Daux Road." Paul Bryant adds "After Express Dairy closed it was Beverly Engineering, there was still the loading bay when I worked there in the 1970-80's." Jeremy Bagley comments "My mum Elsie Howard, sister, worked at the dairy. An Italian POW also worked at the dairy, they married and went to live in Italy.". Nick Thompson added "My dad worked there for over 30 years. It closed down in 1965 when the milk collection went over to tanker rather than churns." Albie Napper comments "My Mum worked there too, Anne Gray".
1931 Billingshurst Creamery churn tipping, from Express Story 1864 - 1964. Chris Austen comments "I spent a few weeks at Billingshurst in 1959; Derek Gray was the manager. Ex-farm milk was cooled using a brine cooler; one had to be very careful not to freeze the product - otherwise it would come cascading out of the cooling system!!"
1931 Billingshurst Creamery churn tipping, from Express Story 1864 - 1964. Chris Austen comments "I spent a few weeks at Billingshurst in 1959; Derek Gray was the manager. Ex-farm milk was cooled using a brine cooler; one had to be very careful not to freeze the product - otherwise it would come cascading out of the cooling system!!"
1950 Map of Express Dairy Co. locations. Appleby, Bideford, Billingshurst, Bradford, Chester, Chesterfield, Dewsbury, Egham, Faringdon, Frome, Horam' Greater London (2 Farms, 5 Bottling Centres, 116 Retail Branches, 250 Dairy Shops), Leyburn, Midlands (Wholesale Depots, Milk Bottling Dairies, Retail Branches, Milk Delivery, Cheese Factories, Milk Collection), Rowsley, Seaton Junction, Sheffield, Tarvin (Courtesy Alan Salt)
1950 Map of Express Dairy Co. locations. Appleby, Bideford, Billingshurst, Bradford, Chester, Chesterfield, Dewsbury, Egham, Faringdon, Frome, Horam' Greater London (2 Farms, 5 Bottling Centres, 116 Retail Branches, 250 Dairy Shops), Leyburn, Midlands (Wholesale Depots, Milk Bottling Dairies, Retail Branches, Milk Delivery, Cheese Factories, Milk Collection), Rowsley, Seaton Junction, Sheffield, Tarvin (Courtesy Alan Salt)
1950's? Billingshurst, Syd Thompson was a driver until the creamery closed in 1965. Nick comments "Alec and Derek, Syd's eldest sons". (Courtesy Nick Thompson)
1950's? Billingshurst, Syd Thompson was a driver until the creamery closed in 1965. Nick comments "Alec and Derek, Syd's eldest sons". (Courtesy Nick Thompson)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery (Courtesy Matthew Pinto)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery (Courtesy Matthew Pinto)
1954 Churn collection by PYD 961 from Garlands Farm, near Slinfold, for Billingshurst Creamery (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Churn collection by PYD 961 from Garlands Farm, near Slinfold, for Billingshurst Creamery (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Unloading churns at Billingshurst Creamery. Looks like a set of brand new churns for the occasion! (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Unloading churns at Billingshurst Creamery. Looks like a set of brand new churns for the occasion! (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Checking incoming milk for smell and laboratory sampling at Billingshurst Creamery (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Checking incoming milk for smell and laboratory sampling at Billingshurst Creamery (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery - Laboratory Records (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery - Laboratory Records (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery-Churn Washing (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery-Churn Washing (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery-loading road tanker RLM 318, Fleet 1787 to go to South Morden (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1954 Billingshurst Creamery-loading road tanker RLM 318, Fleet 1787 to go to South Morden (Stills from Express Dairy Film)
1960's? Billingshurst, Syd Thompson with Walter Nell at a Long Service Presentation. (Courtesy Nick Thompson)
1960's? Billingshurst, Syd Thompson with Walter Nell at a Long Service Presentation. (Courtesy Nick Thompson)
2025 Memories of Billingshurst drivers, featuring Syd Thompson, the longest serving driver. Debby Evershed remembers "I went to Billingshurst school in the 50's. When I was aged about 9 my teacher was Mrs. Gray, her husband worked for the Express Dairy and he arranged a visit for our class. I still remember walking up there and seeing the men at work, and all the churns from the farms round about, and wondering if the milk churns from the end of the lane near us were among them. This would have been about 1956. I do recognise Mr. Gray's smile. He was very kind to us children." Nish Vardy comments "Mrs. Gray was my all time favourite teacher. She and her husband moved away from Billingshurst, I was still in contact with her in the 70's; Mr Gray had, sadly died by then." Cherry Browne adds "Love seeing these old photos! Such an interesting article Peter. Syd is my Grandfather, thank you for sharing." (Courtesy Nick Thompson, his son) Express Dairy Tales Publication.
2025 Memories of Billingshurst drivers, featuring Syd Thompson, the longest serving driver. Debby Evershed remembers "I went to Billingshurst school in the 50's. When I was aged about 9 my teacher was Mrs. Gray, her husband worked for the Express Dairy and he arranged a visit for our class. I still remember walking up there and seeing the men at work, and all the churns from the farms round about, and wondering if the milk churns from the end of the lane near us were among them. This would have been about 1956. I do recognise Mr. Gray's smile. He was very kind to us children." Nish Vardy comments "Mrs. Gray was my all time favourite teacher. She and her husband moved away from Billingshurst, I was still in contact with her in the 70's; Mr Gray had, sadly died by then." Cherry Browne adds "Love seeing these old photos! Such an interesting article Peter. Syd is my Grandfather, thank you for sharing." (Courtesy Nick Thompson, his son) Express Dairy Tales Publication.
2025 Memories of Billingshurst drivers, featuring Syd Thompson, the longest serving driver. Debby Evershed remembers "I went to Billingshurst school in the 50's. When I was aged about 9 my teacher was Mrs. Gray, her husband worked for the Express Dairy and he arranged a visit for our class. I still remember walking up there and seeing the men at work, and all the churns from the farms round about, and wondering if the milk churns from the end of the lane near us were among them. This would have been about 1956. I do recognise Mr. Gray's smile. He was very kind to us children." Nish Vardy comments "Mrs. Gray was my all time favourite teacher. She and her husband moved away from Billingshurst, I was still in contact with her in the 70's; Mr Gray had, sadly died by then." Cherry Browne adds "Love seeing these old photos! Such an interesting article Peter. Syd is my Grandfather, thank you for sharing." (Courtesy Nick Thompson, his son) Express Dairy Tales Publication.
2025 Memories of Billingshurst drivers, featuring Syd Thompson, the longest serving driver. Debby Evershed remembers "I went to Billingshurst school in the 50's. When I was aged about 9 my teacher was Mrs. Gray, her husband worked for the Express Dairy and he arranged a visit for our class. I still remember walking up there and seeing the men at work, and all the churns from the farms round about, and wondering if the milk churns from the end of the lane near us were among them. This would have been about 1956. I do recognise Mr. Gray's smile. He was very kind to us children." Nish Vardy comments "Mrs. Gray was my all time favourite teacher. She and her husband moved away from Billingshurst, I was still in contact with her in the 70's; Mr Gray had, sadly died by then." Cherry Browne adds "Love seeing these old photos! Such an interesting article Peter. Syd is my Grandfather, thank you for sharing." (Courtesy Nick Thompson, his son) Express Dairy Tales Publication.
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