We are delighted to have Dorking’s Horse Drawn Omnibus supplied by Drewitts at our Vintage Day again this May. We know many of you love the history so here is the story of the bus from Tony Drewitt. If you would like to take a ride on this on Vintage Day please pre-book your spot here.
“In 1973 a Mr Dennis Harvey of Dorking who was a Gypsy caravan restorer in Rose Hill informed me that he had found in a field in Dorking what appeared to be a derelict London Bus.
Upon investigation I found it was indeed a horse omnibus; investigations were made to find out who owned it and eventually an owner was traced and the remains purchased.
It was soon discovered that the Omnibus was in fact built by The London General Omnibus Company Limited in North Road, London in 1897 as this was stamped on the axles.
Much of the vehicle lay strewn around where it had stood for many years totally neglected but still recognisable as a bus. A metal detector was used to find as many parts as possible like seat brackets, wheel hubs, handrails, brake parts etc.
The remains of the vehicle were taken to my workshop and soon it was realised the London General had sold the vehicle to a dealer in Fulham called Goldby and son around 1900. Goldy reconditioned the bus and their name is still on the wheel hub caps to this day.
The bus was purchased by The Reigate and Redhill Omnibus Company owned by George Wickens running between Reigate and Redhill railway stations until around 1906 when Mr E. H. Swift publican of the Three Tuns ale house in Dorking purchased it and ran it to The Holly and Laurel at Holmwood for a short while eventually selling it to Daniel Fairbrother who owned The Windmill public house Flint Hill, Dorking. The bus was kept behind the Beehive Public House with the horses. Daniel ran the bus to Dorking market and sometimes delivered pigs with it for market. Daniel continued running it from Holmwood to Dorking until 1914 when the war office commandeered his horses for World War one active service. The bus would never run again except apparently in 1922 the bus was still in the yard and a last run to open the War Memorial in South Street with a Civic Party on board was organised. The bus went to Coldharbour and was used as a small dwelling until finally being vacated and left to fall into disrepair until Tony found it with Dennis in 1973.
In 1978 Tony was contacted by London Transport forerunner to TFL that a big celebration was to be organised in 1979 to celebrate the birthday of the London Bus and the Dorking bus could be in the big parade.
A concerted effort was made to finish the bus restoration involving wheelwrights, carpenters, glaziers, coach painters, sign writers, blacksmiths and upholsterers was set in motion and on the 8th July 1979 the Dorking bus headed a parade of buses spanning 1829 until1979 150 years of bus evolution paraded from London Wall to Hyde Park tracing the original George Shillibeer route from 1829. The bus went into service with a commemorative horse bus service with three other restored London horse buses from Baker Street station to The London Zoo until the end of September when the bus returned to Dorking for a run on its old and final route from The White Horse to the Holly and Laurel Holmwood. Later in the season the bus starred in the 150th year of formation of the Metropolitan Police in the Wembley arena pageant.
The bus has made periodic appearances in Dorking and been featured in many films like The Missionary with Michael Palin, Jack the Ripper with Michael Caine and television series Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett. Appearances in parades and events up and down the country including Scotland and Wales shows.
The bus made its debut with Floella Benjamin live on BBC tv in 1986 its first Lord Mayors Show in the City of London. The bus has made many appearances in the Lord Mayors Show representing charities like Guide Dogs for the Blind and WRVS.
A recent event was driving the bus through Reigate tunnel in 2023 celebrating 200 years since the tunnel opened in 1823 being the first road tunnel ever constructed. Following the drive through the tunnel the bus ran a few trips around Reigate. Later that year it attended Tony’s son’s wedding giving rides for the guests.
The bus had Holmwood and Dorking on the destination boards when it was rescued and has remained in that livery rather than returning it to the London livery. “
