Pickfords

Pickfords is a United Kingdom moving and relocation-services brand whose history is commonly traced to the seventeenth-century carrier and wagon trade. The business is associated with the Pickford family of Adlington, Cheshire, and later Poynton. Early activity involved transporting quarry stone by packhorse for turnpike-road construction. The return journeys were then used to carry goods for other customers, helping develop a general carrier business. The earliest known record connected with the name is a carrier called William Pickford working south of Manchester in 1630, while the business itself is mentioned in public records in 1646. Because the surviving evidence does not establish a precise incorporation or launch date, Pickfords' formal founding year is uncertain. The company expanded beyond local carriage during the eighteenth century. It moved to London in 1756 and introduced the fly wagon in 1776, a faster scheduled wagon service between London and Manchester. In 1777 it acquired William Bass's carrier operation. Pickfords also entered canal transport in 1779, remaining in that sector until 1850, and later operated wagons using other companies' railways. Its nineteenth-century history included a major commercial and legal turning point. After financial difficulties in 1816, the Pickford family brought in new partners, including Joseph Baxendale. The Baxendale family subsequently managed the business for more than a century. A delayed delivery involving a miller's iron shaft led to the landmark 1848 English contract-law case Hadley v. Baxendale, which established an important rule limiting recovery for losses that were not reasonably foreseeable. During the twentieth century, Pickfords shifted from traditional wagon and canal operations toward road haulage and household removals. It developed a rivalry with Carter Paterson and merged with that and other haulage interests in 1912 while retaining its trading identity. In 1920, Pickfords was acquired by Hay's Wharf Cartage Company, reflecting the growth of household-removal activity after the First World War. Hay's Wharf was later absorbed by the main British railway companies and, following nationalisation in 1947, Pickfords became part of the public-sector road-transport structures that developed into the National Freight Corporation. The business operated a broad haulage portfolio during the post-war period, including heavy haulage for unusually large or heavy loads. During the Second World War, its heavy-haulage division helped move sections of Mulberry harbours to launch points for the Normandy invasion. From the 1950s through the 1980s, Pickfords also absorbed or operated alongside other transport businesses, although it eventually withdrew from much of the heavy-haulage sector. Its vehicles and equipment have subsequently appeared in preservation displays and transport events. The National Freight Consortium, the later corporate successor to the nationalised freight structure, was privatised through an employee sale in 1982. Pickfords also had non-moving businesses, including a substantial travel-agency operation. Pickfords Travel was sold to Airtours in 1992 and later combined with other travel businesses to form Going Places. In 1996, the National Freight Consortium sold Pickfords to Allied Van Lines in a transaction reported at approximately 400 million US dollars. The parent company was renamed Allied in 2002. The international operation, previously known as Allied Pickfords, adopted the Pickfords name in 2009. Today, Pickfords presents itself primarily as a removals, relocation and move-management provider. Its services cover domestic moves within the United Kingdom, European and overseas removals, business relocations, employee moves, project and transition management, small moves, packing and related logistics. The United Kingdom and Ireland business operates alongside an international network associated with Allied International Moving Network. In 2012, the UK arm entered a pre-packaged insolvency process and was subsequently acquired by two of its directors; the transaction was reported to have protected the jobs of approximately 900 employees. The identities of those directors and the brand's current ultimate ownership are not established in the supplied reference material.

Pickfords developed from the carrier and wagon trade associated with the Pickford family of Cheshire. The family initially used packhorses to transport quarry stone for turnpike-road construction and then used return journeys to carry third-party goods. A William Pickford is recorded as a carrier south of Manchester in 1630, and the business name appears in public records by 1646. The company later became one of Britain's best-known transport and removals names, although its exact formal founding date is uncertain. In 1756, Pickfords relocated to London. In 1776 it introduced the fly wagon, a faster scheduled service between London and Manchester, and in 1777 it acquired William Bass's carrier business. The company entered canal transport in 1779 and remained active there until 1850. It also operated wagons over other railway companies' lines during the nineteenth century, a practice that generated commercial disputes. Financial problems brought the business close to failure in 1816. New partners were introduced, including Joseph Baxendale, whose family later controlled the company for more than a century. The business became involved in Hadley v. Baxendale, the 1848 contract-law case arising from a delayed delivery. The judgment established that damages generally do not extend to losses that were too remote or not reasonably foreseeable when the contract was made. During the twentieth century, Pickfords transitioned toward road haulage and removals. It competed with Carter Paterson and merged with that and other haulage interests in 1912. Hay's Wharf Cartage Company acquired the business in 1920, during a period when household removals were expanding. Hay's Wharf was subsequently absorbed by the British railway companies, and Pickfords was nationalised in 1947 within the public road-transport system that became associated with the National Freight Corporation. The post-war business handled general haulage and heavy haulage. Its wartime contribution included transporting sections of Mulberry harbours for the Normandy operation. From the 1950s to the 1980s it was involved in the movement of oversized loads and acquired several haulage companies, before later withdrawing from much of that activity. The National Freight Consortium was privatised through an employee sale in 1982. Pickfords' travel-agency division was sold to Airtours in 1992 and later became part of Going Places. In 1996, Pickfords was sold to Allied Van Lines. The parent company adopted the Allied name in 2002, and the international Allied Pickfords business became Pickfords in 2009. In 2012, the UK operation underwent a pre-packaged insolvency and was purchased by two directors, preserving employment for approximately 900 staff according to the cited reference. The brand now focuses on UK and international removals, corporate relocation, employee moves, move management, smaller moves and packing services, with international reach supported by the Allied International Moving Network.

• 2012

  UK restructuring and director acquisition

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  The UK arm entered a pre-packaged insolvency process and was bought by two directors, with employment for around 900 staff reportedly preserved.

• 2009

  International business adopts Pickfords name

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Allied Pickfords, the international arm, adopted the Pickfords name.

• 1996

  Acquisition by Allied Van Lines

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Pickfords was sold by the National Freight Consortium to Allied Van Lines.

• 1982

  Privatisation of the National Freight Consortium

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  The National Freight Consortium was sold to employees, returning the business to private ownership.

• 1947

  Nationalisation

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Pickfords entered the nationalised British road-transport system following the acquisition of Hay's Wharf by the railway companies.

• 1920

  Acquisition by Hay's Wharf Cartage Company

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Hay's Wharf acquired Pickfords during the growth of the post-war household-removals market.

• 1912

  Merger with Carter Paterson and other interests

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Pickfords merged with Carter Paterson and other haulage businesses while preserving its established trading name.

• 1848

  Hadley v. Baxendale

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  A delayed Pickfords delivery became the basis of a leading English contract-law decision on foreseeable losses and remoteness of damages.

• 1816

  New partners join after financial difficulty

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  After approaching bankruptcy, the Pickford family brought in new partners including Joseph Baxendale.

• 1779

  Entry into canal transport

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Pickfords entered the canal industry, remaining active in that field until 1850.

• 1776

  Introduction of the fly wagon

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  Pickfords introduced a faster scheduled wagon service linking London and Manchester.

• 1756

  Relocation to London

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  The company moved its operations from Cheshire to London as it expanded its carrier business.

• 1646

  Business appears in public records

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Pickford business is mentioned in public records, although the evidence does not establish a precise modern founding date.

• 1630

  Earliest recorded Pickford carrier

  [1]Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org

  William Pickford is recorded as a carrier working south of Manchester, providing the earliest dated connection between the Pickford name and carriage.

A long-established British removals and relocation brand combining household moving, corporate relocation, employee mobility and international-network capabilities.

• Domestic moving

  UK Removals

  Household moving services within the United Kingdom, including the logistical planning and transport required to move personal possessions between homes. The service represents the core modern association of the Pickfords brand.

• International moving

  International Removals

  Cross-border and overseas relocation services for households and individuals. These services are supported by Pickfords' connection with the Allied International Moving Network and cover moves to Europe and destinations farther overseas.

• Corporate relocation

  Business Relocation

  Moving services for offices and businesses, covering the physical transfer of workplace equipment and materials as well as the coordination needed to reduce disruption during a corporate move.

• Employee mobility

  Employee Relocation

  Relocation support for employees moving as part of an employer-sponsored transfer. The offering sits within Pickfords' wider corporate and international move-management activity.

• Relocation management

  Move Management and Project Management

  Planning, transition and project-management services for complex moves. These capabilities are intended for organised programmes involving multiple stages, locations, teams or employee groups.

• Moving support

  Small Moves and Packing

  Services for smaller-scale moves together with packing assistance and packing materials. They extend the brand beyond full household removals to more limited relocation requirements.

• Freight transport

  Historical Heavy Haulage

  A major historical business line involving the movement of oversized and exceptionally heavy loads. Pickfords was active in this area from the post-war decades into the 1980s before withdrawing from much of the sector.

• 2010NSPCC fundraising partnership

  United Kingdom

  Pickfords announced a fundraising partnership with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children as part of its corporate-responsibility programme.

  Outcome. The supplied reference confirms the partnership announcement but does not provide fundraising totals or a detailed evaluation of its results.

  Source

• 2012

  Director acquisition following UK insolvency processM&A

  Background

  The UK arm faced financial distress and entered a pre-packaged insolvency process.

  Action taken

  Two company directors bought the UK business.

  Aftermath

  The transaction was reported to have protected employment for approximately 900 staff. The supplied material does not identify the directors or provide subsequent ownership details.

  Source

• 2009

  International rebranding from Allied Pickfords to PickfordsStrategy

  Background

  The international arm had operated under the Allied Pickfords name while the UK business retained the Pickfords identity.

  Action taken

  The international business adopted the Pickfords name.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued to operate internationally through the Allied International Moving Network.

  Source

• 1996

  Sale to Allied Van LinesM&A

  Background

  The National Freight Consortium reorganised its portfolio after privatisation.

  Action taken

  Pickfords was sold to the American company Allied Van Lines.

  Aftermath

  Pickfords became part of the Allied corporate structure, which was renamed Allied in 2002.

  Reported transaction value. 400 million US dollars (1996)

  Source

• 1992

  Sale of the Pickfords Travel businessM&A

  Background

  Pickfords operated a substantial travel-agency division in addition to its transport activities.

  Action taken

  The travel business, including the Pickfords and Hourmont Travel brands, was sold to Airtours.

  Aftermath

  The business was later combined with other Airtours travel operations to create Going Places.

  Source

• 1779

  Entry into canal transportStrategy

  Background

  The expansion of canals created a new opportunity for long-distance freight movement.

  Action taken

  Pickfords entered the canal industry and operated in that sector until 1850.

  Aftermath

  The move diversified the business beyond packhorse and wagon carriage, although Pickfords later exited canal transport.

  Source

• 1776

  Launch of the fly wagon serviceProduct launch

  Background

  Eighteenth-century carriers competed partly through speed and scheduled service. Pickfords sought to improve the London–Manchester connection.

  Action taken

  The company introduced a fly wagon capable of making the journey in approximately four and a half days, described at the time as fast.

  Aftermath

  The service marked an important early innovation in Pickfords' long-distance transport operations.

  Source

1. 1Pickfordsen.wikipedia.org