South Woodham Ferrers Local History Society

Lodge's Coaches, was established in 1920 by the grandfather of the present partners Andrew, Robert and Christopher Lodge.  Today with its fleet of modern coaches, based in High Easter north of Chelmsford, it provides a wide choice of luxury holidays and day excursions and has vehicles available for private hire for such occasions as group holidays and weddings.

As well as providing a service for twenty-first century customers, the company is also keenly aware of its history and the part that it played in giving the people of Essex their early experiences of coach travel. It is a history which the company is able to share with customers through its supplementary fleet of historic coaches comprising of seven beautifully restored vehicles, including a 1950 Bedford Duple.  A truly intriguing offshoot of this historical fleet has been the appearance of Lodge's Coaches in many films and TV shows over the years.

In addition to their historical coaches, the company maintains five vintage cars in their busy High Easter workshop including a 1940's Daimler and a WW2 Willys Jeep.  It is clearly a business with a truly "historic heart" and the South Woodham Ferrers Local History Society is delighted that one of the present-day partners, Robert Lodge is visiting the Society's March meeting to present an illustrated talk about the history of this family business as it approaches its centenary year.

The talk "The History Of Lodge's Coaches" by Robert Lodge will take place at 8pm on Wednesday 6th March at Champions Manor Hall, Hullbridge Road, CM3 5LJ.  Visitors are welcome to attend (admission £3).  Alternatively, visitors may join the Society when they arrive - at the reduced (half-year) rate of just £5 - which gives admission to all three of the Society's remaining monthly meetings from now until May 2019. Any inquiriesplease telephone 01245 321518.