Welcome to the Website
of the
Crosville Enthusiasts' Club (1967).
As the name suggests the Club was founded in 1967 and caters for all those interested in the operations and vehicles of Crosville, a bus company formed in 1906 which grew to operate in North, Mid and parts of West Wales together with Cheshire, significant parts of Merseyside, South Lancashire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
In addition to celebrating this extremely interesting bus undertaking we also look at the current activities of the bus and coach operators in the former Crosville operating area.
Whilst a number of our members are based in the region served by Crosville the interest in the company and its history is shared by very many others and we have members from all over the United Kingdom.
To obtain further information about the Club, for an application form or to make contact with the Club - see below
In addition to belonging to a fellowship of enthusiasts who share an interest in Crosville members are also able to enjoy:-
Monthly Magazine - The Review
We produce and dispatch to members every month a 36–40 page magazine which covers service developments and fleet details of the bus firms operating in the former Crosville territory. In addition to the latest news reports there are articles written by members and others about their experiences and memories of Crosville and related subjects. Also included are the events of 25 years ago in 'Reviews Revisited' and the ability to keep track of the Crosville vehicles we remember with fondness. We aim to cater for the interests of those wishing to learn about and remember Crosville and also for those who wish to be kept updated of the latest developments within the former Crosville area. It also contains a good selection of topical and historical photographs.
Tours
The Club organises a number of tours each year using mainly preserved Crosville vehicles. We visit various parts of the former territory and often follow the old routes used by Crosville gaining valuable knowledge of the history of these services.
The Club Tours are for members and invited guests only but we occasionally open up the tours to members of allied clubs and our members are often invited on tours run by other clubs and organisations.
Most tours start and finish in Chester - the city where the former company had its head office.
Archive
The Club has been custodian of numerous records and items that have been gathered together from various sources. This collection is known as the ‘Crosville Archive’.
For some time this collection was housed at the Birkenhead Transport Museum - but this facility is no longer available. The contents of the Crosville Archive can be said to be in two parts.
The major part being documents such as ledgers, books, timetables, fare tables, Road Service Licence files, general correspondence, some vehicle files, property files etc., The Club has arranged for the collection to be managed and kept by the Bus Archive. Timetables and leaflets are now housed at Walsall and the main documents are at Droitwich within a new adapted building. These items are being made available for viewing by bus enthusiasts and historians. Link to the Bus Archive website - << https://www.busarchive.org.uk >>
The remaining part of the collection is hardware such as Bus Stops, posters, ticket machines, examples of uniforms and various other smaller items. Currently this is being stored safely and our new Archivist is developing a strategy for its future.
The following photographs demonstrate the size of the ‘Archive’ when it was in Birkenhead.
Sales
The club sometimes has items for sale, many of Crosville interest. These may be duplicate items to those already held in the Archive and the proceeds from any sales are put towards the benefit of the Club.
The Club has a Sales Officer who is able to arrange stands at some events in the area where these items are offered for sale.
If anyone who has relevant items they wish to donate for sale please use the Contact Form to get in touch with the Sales Officer.
CONTACTING THE CLUB
The Club welcomes contact. Whilst we will try and deal with your enquiry as soon as possible we are all volunteers and there may sometimes be a delay. Your enquiry will be passed to the most appropriate person to deal with your enquiry.