IN DEPTH
Read how Rowsley Creamery started in the 1930's


Larger scale map of location of Rowsley Creamery, showing its own rail sidings. (Courtesy Matthew Pinto)

1930's, Rowsley Creamery history

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 Express Dairy Rowsley

1930's Express Dairy Rowsley. Map showing rail lines in the village - Express is to the right of the Station - with its own sidings for milk tankers. (Courtesy Alan Salt)

1930's Express Dairy Rowsley. Plan of site; Rowsley was well known as a milk processing and distribution centre but they did also make Derby cheese at some time, probably in the area marked Dairy.(Courtesy Alan Salt)

1930's Express Dairy Rowsley. Road milk tanker and Rail milk tanker. The milk will have been picked up in Derbyshire and/or Staffordshire and appears to be being transferred to a rail tanker destined for Manchester or London." Graham Serrell comments "Used to be a regular service to London from Rowsley Yard". (Courtesy Alan Salt)

1933 Express Dairy Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "This is when the dairy opened; if you look at the picture of the royal train you can see the rear of the road tanker". (Courtesy Alan Salt)

1933 Rowsley Creamery. Alan Salt comments "All long gone, the new shopping village is just to the left nowadays." Bill Conquest comments "The Royal Family had just visited Chatsworth in July 1933". (Courtesy Alan Salt)

1950's Rowsley Dairy frontage.(Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy churn bank, decorated with bunting, with churn truck Co. No: 190, Reg: BGW 868. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy loading bank, with rigid tanker Co. No: 702, Reg:GXY 434 (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy loading bank, with rigid tanker Co. No: 702, Reg:GXY 434 (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy front entrance and churn bank. Co Nos: 981, 960. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy churn bank/ tanker bay, with tanker 1027, Reg: KXU 845. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy filter plant (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy milk storage tanks. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy milk storage tanks and pasteurising/ cooling plant. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy cheese vats (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Vat Room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Press room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Store. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Store, cheeses dated January 1952. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy compressor room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy compressor room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy compressor? (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy chimney prior to demoliton. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy chimney demolition. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's Rowsley Dairy aerial view, showing adjacent station and dairy rail sidings. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's? Rowsley Creamery from the air. John Irish comments"... Note the railway behind the dairy going through the bridge to the milk depot where the Peak shopping village is now located. Good view of the station as well." (Courtesy Alan Salt)

1950's, Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "My father collecting in early 50's at Aldwark (Hambleton District, near BoroughBridge, North Yorkshire) ". Roger Broughton adds "London registration, Bedford O Series truck" (Courtesy Bill Conquest)

1950's? Rowsley. William Gee's churn lorry, used to take milk to Express Dairy at Rowsley (Courtesy Alan Salt, Cheese making villages in Derbyshire and Staffordshire)

Express Seddon Churn Truck Reg: GXY 450 Fleet No 708 at Rowsley (Courtesy Michael Aldread)

1950's Express Tanker Reg: JXN 569, Fleet No 969. Bill Conquest identifies this image taken at Rowsley, heading on the A6 toward Matlock. (Courtesy Michael Aldread)

1950's Rowsley stand at the June Dairy Festival, London. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)

1950's-farm at the "Back of Ecton"-a small hamlet near to Hulme End in Staffordshire, which supplied milk to Rowsley. Alan Salt comments "Courtesy of a mate of mine-John Irish-picture shows his grandad John George Wood-he only milked four cows but many people did this in those days and still had another day job."

1953 Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "My father, Leonard Conquest receiving his 20 year award, he was a driver at Rowsley. Rowsley opened in 1933." (Courtesy Bill Conquest)

1956 Rowlsey and Reapsmoor memories from Jock Shepherd, Express boiler engineer. (Express News July)

1963, Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "My father, Leonard Conquest receiving his 30 year award, he was a driver at Rowsley. Rowsley opened in 1933." (Courtesy Bill Conquest)

1963 Joe Dakin with churn collection lorry at Rowsley in the harsh winter of 1963/64

1966 Mr H. G. Laverick appointed to the Express Group Executive Committee. (Express News Autumn & Christmas)

1968 E.K. Robarts announces the closure of Rowsley, and floods at Appleby. (Express News Summer)
