roolechat:
Percy Powell Ltd operated from the laundry & stable block of Letcombe House,Rowlands Castle Road near Blendworth. By 1957 “near Blendworth” ceased to be used & became Horndean.
During the 50’s their B licences enabled them to operate within 25 miles of Emsworth Railway Station & also 15 miles of Horndean Post Office Traffics carried included Milk,furniture,agricultural goods & produce.
By the late 50’s /early 60’s Powells began to expand & develop.In 1960,a lwb tipper was used during the sugar beet season (Oct to Jan) to carry sugar beets from local farms to the Kidderminster Beet factory.This seasonal traffic lasted for several yearsPowells were members of the Mid Southern Tipping Group & at least 3 of their tippers (possibly more) were engaged by Southern Counties Construction in 1964 to move chalk from Butser & Gravel Hill (A3) for the A27 Havant By Pass. Again ,in 1968,they were involved in chalk movements for the Farlington/Cosham By Pass. Salt for local authorities was a winter traffic
In 1961 Powells acquired R Weeks Ltd of 28 Denmark St, Wokingham whose 4 A licences enabled Powells to expand their general operations
By the mid 60’s the operation was a mix of local & distance traffics.Artics began to replace rigids which meant increased capacity.
In 1967 the fleet included 2 artics on B licences-goods within 25 miles of Emsworth Railway Station- a bulk milk tanker on contract to the Milk Marketing Board & various tippers -goods within 20 miles of Horndean Post office- Some vehicles were on contract-Milk Marketing Board.Kenwood Havant 2(possibly 3) artics , Hunt & Friedmann (Artic & Rigid) for movement of imported produce to London & provincial markets. Halmatic were another customer
AEC was the standard “heavy” vehicle initially supplied through H & J Prince Southampton but latterly through Stringer (Portsmouth) of Twyford Avenue
What happened to Powells customers after the acquisition by Robert Baillie ?
The site in Rowlands Castle Road was cleared in 2000 & developed for housing
Hi roolechat, Thank you again for your very accurate history of Percy Powell. Unfortunately my knowledge of the company
is rather limited, other than some of Baillies Horndean drivers that I knew were ex Percy Powell.Kind Regards, Ray Smyth.