MidlandRed.net

Shrewsbury Depot

Abbey Foregate

• Garage formerly used by the Allen Omnibus Company
• Garage control passed to Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) in March 1916, with an allocation of one vehicle, a Tilling-Stevens TS3 single-deck
• Allocation of 3 vehicles by December 1916
• Site vacated in July 1919

Roushill

• Operated on a temporary lease by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) from July 1919, following the closure of the Abbey Foregate site.  Initial allocation of three vehicles.
• Allocation increased to 4 vehicles.
• Site closed in November 1920, and all operations transferred to a purpose built garage at Ditherington.

Spring Gardens, Ditherington Road, Shrewsbury.

• Purpose built 2-bay garage, brick built around a steel frame, with a single-story office block.
• Opened by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) on 11^th November 1920.
• c. 1925, the single-story office block is extended upwards with a second floor, matching the design of the original building.
• Expanded in 1929, with the addition of two more bays, matching the design of the original building.  Garage capacity is increased to 53 vehicles.
• Building partly turned over to the war effort in 1940 for the production of aircraft components.
• Vehicle allocation of 57 by 1947, with the narrow forecourt being used for outdoor overnight parking due to lack of space indoors.
• Additional outdoor parking space adjacent to the garage acquired in the early 1950s.
• Site used for a special bodywork department, carrying out overhauls from BMMO garages in the area.
• Vehicle allocation of more than 70 vehicles during the late 1960s.
• Company renamed to Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) on 29^th March 1974, with a depot allocation of 68 vehicles and approximately 198 staff at this time.
• Depot control passed to Midland Red (North) Limited when the Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited split up on 6^th September 1981.
• Midland Red (North) Limited is privatised and sold to Drawlane Transport Group Limited on 27^th January 1988.  Drawlane Transport Group was later acquired by British Bus Group Limited.
• British Bus Group Limited acquired by the Cowie Group plc on 1^st August 1996.
• Cowie Group plc renamed to ARRIVA plc on 6^th November 1997, with the Midland Red North operations becoming ARRIVA Midlands North Limited soon after.
• Due for closure following a compulsory purchase order by Shrewsbury Council.