I am as near as certain as I can be that Pickford’s owned Paint Mill Quarry, Goyt Valley and they carted stone from there to pave Regent Street and the floors in the Houses of Parliament. It would seem that they operated the quarry from as early as 1646.
They hauled from Manchester to London and because they were astute business people they had depots in both London and Manchester so that they could haul goods both ways.
An interesting article is to be found in the Manchester Mercury:
27 July 1756
This is to acquaintall Gentlemen, Tradesmen, and others that james pickford, the London and Manchester Waggoner, has removed his Waggon from the Blossom’s Inn, in Lawrence Lane, London to the Bell-Inn, in Wood-street, Cheapside, London from whence it goes every Wednesday : And his other Waggon goes every Saturday, as usual, from the White Bear in Basingnhall Street, London. Each Waggon, for the Carriage of Goods and Passengers, at reasonable Rates, goes by and through the Towns undermentioned, viz. Newcastle under Line, Congleton, Macclesfield, Stockport to Manchester; and delivers goods &c. for Ashton under Line, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, and other adjacent Places. At which Places, Gentlemen &c. may depend on having their Goods, &c. safely delivered.
By Their humble Servant
james pickford
N.B. No Money, Plate, Jewels, China Ware, Glass, or Writings, will be accounted for, unless a true Account of them is delivered to the Book-keeper : And Constant Attendance is given every Day at the above said Inns, in London, to agree with Passengers to take in Goods.
john Jones, Book keeper to both Waggons.
It would also seem that they had offered some of their ‘fleet’ to the Government during the Napoleonic Wars in 1803.
This again from the Machester Mercury:
12 July 1803
Amongst the many patriotic offers of service, which we hope will convince the infuriated First Consul of France of the ill success which will attend any attempt of his to invade this country, we have to notice that of Messrs Pickford, carriers from this town to London, viz. 400 horses, 50 waggons, and 28 boats, to be employed as Government shall think fit.
R. S-S
