Silvey's Coaches

The early 1900s

By Rachel Williams

Herbert Knight ran a Carrier and Bus Service and lived at Glengariff (formerly MM Villa), Longney.  Charles James Silvey, who was married to Herbert's sister Edith then bought the house and business in 1925.

Charles called his buisness the Epney Bus Service and was running in opposition to S K & F Silvey who were cousins to Charles.  In order to run a successful business, Charles Silvey picked up passengers a quarter of an hour earlier than his cousins.

Samuel Knight and Felix ran their business from a depot at Epney opposite the Anchor and was still a coach company in the 1960s, running a local daily bus service to Gloucester, secondary school runs and coach trips.

Charles Silvey sold his business to the Bristol Tramways, later known as the Bristol Omnibus Company, in the late 1930s.  During and after the First World War the buses were still kept at Glengariff and Charles charged Bristol Tramways rent.  Three of his drivers were Stan Knight (a cousin to Edith), Arthur Gabb and Bill Stevens who all continued driving for Bristol Tramways.