Name/TitleMilk float

About this objectThis two-wheeled, horse drawn, milk delivery cart was used by the Booty and Sons dairy (founded 1923) at Timworth, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Painted cream with red lettering it was made to order in London in 1952 by Ellwood and cost approximately £200.

It was pulled by their horse, Sandy, and was in regular use until the late 1960s. It was later superseded by a four wheeled float with pneumatic tyres, ref. STMEA:1988-33.

The cart is complete with two brass churns and one brass cream container. The churns were purchased from the King's Cross Dairy, London.

John Reed, Research Volunteer:
The cart evokes memories of a horse-drawn past where a local milk deliverer went from house to house bringing milk, food products and possibly gossip. Milk deliverers were integral to rural life and thus local communities held them in high regard. Industrious and entrepreneurial spirit abounds in the tales told of milkmen, including in Booty’s machinations. Everyday milk deliverers orbited local areas, interacting with their neighbours, spreading milk and perhaps much more.

John Booty rotated between two different horses for pulling the cart, one for weekdays and one for weekends. John’s horses knew the milk round route off by heart and moved from house to house independently, while John unloaded milk. John used multiple carts in his time as a milkman. When John began delivering pasteurised milk in bottles, he acquired a four wheeled cart with a roof.

Entering the post-modern world has included the mass production and use of engine powered transportation devices such as cars, vans and motorbikes. The carts of the past became hazardous, especially down dark country lanes. John Booty’s cart use ended in a crash where modern car and antique cart collided in a prophetically juxtaposed clash of old and new. Derek Presland notes that the only lights John had upon his cart were bike lights and that he heard that John would often fall asleep while riding his cart. The stark lack of regulation and standardisation highlights the contrast between Johns operating and modern day milk operating. The use of a van to deliver milk is noted by both Derek and Dennis to be inefficient compared to the use of a horse and cart (vans can’t move by themselves).

(see attached PDFs for full research and interviews with members of the communities served)

MakerManufactured by Ellwood and Sons, London.

Medium and MaterialsCart, Shafts, wheels: Wood
Wheel rims, Fittings: Iron

Body, Shafts: Yellow
Part Body: Red and Black decoration

Brass churns & creamer

Inscription and MarksInscription: Sign Written Paint: on both sides of cart ::
'BOOTY & SONS
TIMWORTH.'

Inscription: Sign Written Paint: front of cart ::
'PURE NEW MILK.'

MeasurementsLength: 347cm
Width: 178cm
Height: 158cm

Object Typecart

Object numberSTMEA:1988-34

Copyright LicenceAttribution - Non-commercial (cc)