Historicaleigh: Speeding Fish Vans From Leigh

March 8, 2016 by Carole Mulroney

Speeding Fish Vans From Leigh

On a Sunday night in July 1831 James Cook, fisherman and landlord of the Cock and Billet (now the Crooked Billet), was driving his fish machine to London when his horse took fright at a cow lying in the road and the machine careered off at rapid speed.

On reaching the bridge between Shenfield and Hutton the machine overturned and Cook fell on his head, with the van and a passenger named Wood on top of him. Nearly an hour passed before Cook could be freed from the entanglement but he was quite dead with a dislocated neck. Wood had considerable injuries to his forehead and face. Several other people in the machine were unhurt.

Cook left a widow and five children.

Comment was made in the local press at the fearful rate at which the fish vans travelled along public roads which was felt to be unnecessary and dangerous.