Miller's Coaches and Lorries Miller Family November 2024
Henry Miller outside High Street Garage (courtesy Keith Miller)
Once an area has been developed, it is hard to remember how the original appeared. This is true of Belle Vue, the earlier name of Miller’s on the High Street. The premises is now a private house, but its previous history was as a coach and haulage garage and a shop run by the Miller family.
Henry Miller driving his charabanc (courtesy Keith Miller)
Henry Miller
Henry Miller (1873-1953) and his wife Annie Sabina Fisher (1872-1956) came to Box before 1921 from Sydenham and Clapham, Surrey. Henry was an iron smith in 1901 who worked as a baker after the First World War. In the depression of the 1920s, they set up businesses at Belle Vue on Box High Street, as a haulier (H Miller Haulier), motor transport provider and a shop. Few people had private cars until after World War II and travel was limited to the railways for those who could afford the fares, or by charabanc (horse-drawn or motorised open top coaches). They were extremely popular with people crowding on bench seats to travel to local visitor spots in Wiltshire and Somerset.
Henry Miller (1873-1953) and his wife Annie Sabina Fisher (1872-1956) came to Box before 1921 from Sydenham and Clapham, Surrey. Henry was an iron smith in 1901 who worked as a baker after the First World War. In the depression of the 1920s, they set up businesses at Belle Vue on Box High Street, as a haulier (H Miller Haulier), motor transport provider and a shop. Few people had private cars until after World War II and travel was limited to the railways for those who could afford the fares, or by charabanc (horse-drawn or motorised open top coaches). They were extremely popular with people crowding on bench seats to travel to local visitor spots in Wiltshire and Somerset.
After Henry’s death in 1953, his grandson John and his wife Menna, along with their first child Annie, moved to Belle Vue to join Harry Miller and his wife Amy. Meanwhile, Annie Sabina moved to Lauderdale, Devizes Road, where she died on 30 October 1956, leaving her estate to be administered by her children, Harry Miller, Edgar Miller (retired civil servant) and Mrs Dorothy Annie Fortune (known as Dor).
Harry Miller
When the eldest son, Harry (1896-1962), joined his father in the motor transport and haulage business, the business was renamed H Miller & Son.
Harry Miller
When the eldest son, Harry (1896-1962), joined his father in the motor transport and haulage business, the business was renamed H Miller & Son.
Harry Miller outside High Street Garage (courtesy Keith Miller)
In 1926, Harry married a local girl, Florence Amy Sawyer, always known as Amy (1896-1979) and they lived with his parents at Belle Vue. Amy was the eldest child of Frank and Elizabeth Sawyer, local builders and carpenters, related to John Hardy, grocer at Hardy House and the builder of Valens Terrace which discovered the extent of the Box Roman Villa.
Florence Amy and husband Harry Miller, Muriel Sawyer and grandfather John Hardy (courtesy Hugh Sawyer)
Harry became part of Box’s business community in the inter-war years. He joined the Buffs (the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes), whose members had a significant influence on local industry in Box. In 1933, Harry and other members organised a dance at the Bingham Hall in support of a children’s ward at the RUH, Bath.[1] Local resident Stella Clarke recalled their early days: Further up the High Street was Miller’s Garage with old granny Miller (Annie Sabina) and her son Harry. Part of their place, beside the garage, was a little cake shop and next to it was the doctor’s surgery with Dr Davey.
An important part of Harry’s ethics was his commitment to help Box residents. In the 1945 Box pantomime of Sleeping Beauty at the Bingham Hall (attended by five hundred people) local shopkeeper, Leslie Bence, did the lighting and trees were loaned by
Mr Miller.[2] These may have been trees originating in the Miller’s allotment at the foot of the Queens Head gardens. For Aladdin in 1947, Harry Miller and Richard Webster made the scenery. In 1949, the village started fundraising for a new community hall to replace the old Bingham Hall. A fete was held on the Rec in July with displays of Box manufacturing industries which included talks by Mr Miller and Mr Browning about transport.[3]
An important part of Harry’s ethics was his commitment to help Box residents. In the 1945 Box pantomime of Sleeping Beauty at the Bingham Hall (attended by five hundred people) local shopkeeper, Leslie Bence, did the lighting and trees were loaned by
Mr Miller.[2] These may have been trees originating in the Miller’s allotment at the foot of the Queens Head gardens. For Aladdin in 1947, Harry Miller and Richard Webster made the scenery. In 1949, the village started fundraising for a new community hall to replace the old Bingham Hall. A fete was held on the Rec in July with displays of Box manufacturing industries which included talks by Mr Miller and Mr Browning about transport.[3]
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Above left: Henry and Annie in the back garden facing the allotment (courtesy Keith Miller)
Above right: Annie Jones, Amy and May Parker in the back garden facing the house (courtesy Keith Miller)
Above right: Annie Jones, Amy and May Parker in the back garden facing the house (courtesy Keith Miller)
Bill Cooper recalled that few people had cars and petrol remained rationed until the early 1950s. Harry Miller would set out a board on the Garage forecourt giving details of travel destinations, cost and time of departure. The departure point was always from the same place.[4]
Open-top charabanc with driver Harry Miller (courtesy Stella Clarke)
Into the 1950s and 1960s, coaches became more comfortable with roofs and heating but outings to the seaside and local places of interest remained a rare opportunity for holidays for many people. Patricia Coles remembered a coach trip from Box Hill: The photo below is of my mother and sister with the Edgell family posing in front of Harry Miller’s coaches.
Box High;ands School coach outing (courtesy Patricia Coles)
John Miller
John Eric (1926-2016), known as Johnny, was born at Belle Vue as the only child of Harry and Amy. Many of his extended family also lived in Box so John grew up in a close-knit community of friends and relations.
From school, John went to work with his father, Harry. He then completed his National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) based at Aldershot. His skills as a mechanic were noted and the only aspect of that time in his life, he enjoyed was his role in constructing the huge American lorries that were shipped over in parts. When he returned to Box, he joined his father and grandfather as a driver.
During the 1950s, the lorries were hauling stone from the local Bath & Portland quarries to London, helping to rebuild the city after the war. Meanwhile, the coaches were busy with day trips to local places of interest and outings to the seaside. It was through driving for a trip organised by Dowty’s in Atworth, that he met Menna Jones (1930-1998). She was the last passenger he dropped off at her home in Gastard...and he asked her out! Their courtship led to marriage on 6 August 1952.
In 1953, Henry died, and the business was renamed as H & J Miller. At that time, they had two Bedford coaches, which Harry drove and four Bedford lorries which John drove and maintained.
John Eric (1926-2016), known as Johnny, was born at Belle Vue as the only child of Harry and Amy. Many of his extended family also lived in Box so John grew up in a close-knit community of friends and relations.
From school, John went to work with his father, Harry. He then completed his National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) based at Aldershot. His skills as a mechanic were noted and the only aspect of that time in his life, he enjoyed was his role in constructing the huge American lorries that were shipped over in parts. When he returned to Box, he joined his father and grandfather as a driver.
During the 1950s, the lorries were hauling stone from the local Bath & Portland quarries to London, helping to rebuild the city after the war. Meanwhile, the coaches were busy with day trips to local places of interest and outings to the seaside. It was through driving for a trip organised by Dowty’s in Atworth, that he met Menna Jones (1930-1998). She was the last passenger he dropped off at her home in Gastard...and he asked her out! Their courtship led to marriage on 6 August 1952.
In 1953, Henry died, and the business was renamed as H & J Miller. At that time, they had two Bedford coaches, which Harry drove and four Bedford lorries which John drove and maintained.
John Miller on an outing to Weston Super Mare (courtesy Keith Miller)
When Harry died in November 1962, John took over running the family business with his wife Menna. On 8 September 1967, John acquired the R Silcocks & Sons contract from Clement & Phyllis Hancock of Corsham, together with additional lorries and drivers. He collected animal feed from Avonmouth, 7 days a week, and delivered it to farms in the local Box and Corsham area. At the back of the garage in Box, there was an animal feed store, which held c30 tonne in case of emergencies. Whilst John was out driving, Menna ran the office and dealt with all the administration and book-keeping side of the business.
As livestock and poultry farming declined in the 1970s, the lorries became less profitable and the family business changed accordingly, by increasing the number of coaches to four and gradually reducing the lorries to none by 1985.
As livestock and poultry farming declined in the 1970s, the lorries became less profitable and the family business changed accordingly, by increasing the number of coaches to four and gradually reducing the lorries to none by 1985.
John Miller at Box Highlands School (courtesy Keith Miller)
In the early 1980s, Dick Browning of Brownings Coaches, visited John and Menna to let them know he was retiring and asked if they wanted to buy any of his coaches. They subsequently bought a 53-seater and a 45-seater, both of which were Bedford’s. Mr Browning kindly let the Millers use his garage to respray the coaches before they were moved to High Street Garage.
Keith Miller
In 1985, John and Menna’s second son, Keith, joined the business full-time as a driver and mechanic to ease the pressure on John.
Keith had completed his apprenticeship in commercial vehicle engineering at FSL at The Wharf in 1977 and passed his HGV Class 1 and PSV in 1979. Whilst being a full-time mechanic for FSL, Keith would also help his father by doing the afternoon school run from Corsham Comprehensive back to Kingsdown and Box. He would also provide sick cover for FSL, regularly doing night shifts to Liverpool, driving a tanker lorry.
As the Bedford coaches were getting older, Keith convinced his parents to switch to Volvo, having seen a demonstrator whilst working at The Wharf. He bought their first Volvo, a B58 with a Duple dominant four body, in March 1988.
Keith Miller
In 1985, John and Menna’s second son, Keith, joined the business full-time as a driver and mechanic to ease the pressure on John.
Keith had completed his apprenticeship in commercial vehicle engineering at FSL at The Wharf in 1977 and passed his HGV Class 1 and PSV in 1979. Whilst being a full-time mechanic for FSL, Keith would also help his father by doing the afternoon school run from Corsham Comprehensive back to Kingsdown and Box. He would also provide sick cover for FSL, regularly doing night shifts to Liverpool, driving a tanker lorry.
As the Bedford coaches were getting older, Keith convinced his parents to switch to Volvo, having seen a demonstrator whilst working at The Wharf. He bought their first Volvo, a B58 with a Duple dominant four body, in March 1988.
First Volvo, parked at Lyme Regis, taken by Garth Topp (courtesy Keith Miller)
Despite his initial scepticism, John kept their first Volvo until the business was sold because he loved it so much and would never let Keith sell it! During the 1990s, Keith continued to replace the Bedford coaches with Volvos, every couple of years.
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Early vehicles on outings and in the garage (courtesy of Keith Miller)
When Menna died in April 1998, Keith became a Partner in H & J Miller and took over the administration side of the business as well as driving and vehicle maintenance. John continued doing daily school runs for St Patrick’s RC Primary, The Corsham School and St Gregory’s RC Secondary in Bath, plus swimming and sport transport for Box Primary, Box Highlands Primary, Bathford Primary, Batheaston Primary, Neston Primary and Heyward School. Millers continued to be available for private hire but also had an active coach tours programme, run by Garth Topp and Eileen Bradbury throughout the summer months and weekends.
Above: Parking up in the High Street. Below: Last coaches owned by Millers (photos courtesy of Keith Miller)
With John’s advancing years and impending changes to coach legislation such as a minimum vehicle ages for school contracts and 3-point seatbelts instead of lap belts, the family made the difficult decision to wind up the business. H & J Miller Trading As Millers of Box formally ceased trading on 31 December 2004.
Over the next six months, the coaches were sold, the premises were cleared ready for sale and John moved to a bungalow in Neston, together with his eldest son Robert, known as Bob. The house and yard were sold by auction at The Northey Arms in July 2005.
Over the next six months, the coaches were sold, the premises were cleared ready for sale and John moved to a bungalow in Neston, together with his eldest son Robert, known as Bob. The house and yard were sold by auction at The Northey Arms in July 2005.
Photo: Taken by Peter Tomlinson at Keith’s 40th birthday party in the Selwyn Hall, Box (courtesy Keith Miller)
Family Tree
Henry Miller (1873-1953) married Annie Sabina Fisher (1872-1956) in 1894. Children:
Henry Miller (1873-1953) married Annie Sabina Fisher (1872-1956) in 1894. Children:
- Dorothy Annie (1895-1985)
- Harry (1896-1962) married Florence Amy Sawyer, known as Amy (1896-1979) on 22 February 1926. Child: John Eric (1926-2016)
- Edgar (1898-1973)
Harry (1896-1962) married Florence Amy Sawyer, known as Amy (1896-1979) on 22 February 1926. Child:
John Eric (1926-2016) married Menna Jones (1930-1998) on 6 August 1952. Children:
- John Eric (1926-2016)
John Eric (1926-2016) married Menna Jones (1930-1998) on 6 August 1952. Children:
- Annie (1953-)
- Joyce (1954-)
- Robert John, known as Bob (1956-)
- Keith Paul (1957-)
- Linda (1961-)
References
[1] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Heald, 11 February 1933. The other organisers were WE Dermott, FW Nowell, MA Chaffey,
U Rogers, HJ Rothery and CH Sheppard (secretary)
[2] Courtesy Genevieve Brunt
[3] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 6 July 1949
[4] Courtesy Bill Cooper
[1] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Heald, 11 February 1933. The other organisers were WE Dermott, FW Nowell, MA Chaffey,
U Rogers, HJ Rothery and CH Sheppard (secretary)
[2] Courtesy Genevieve Brunt
[3] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 6 July 1949
[4] Courtesy Bill Cooper