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This wagon was used for market deliveries and can still be seen on that farm.
Many types of agricultural carts and wagons were built by Gibbs and in particular, there was a steady trade in dung carts. Dung was an essential commodity for any farmer in an age before artificial fertiliser, for without it, his land would soon become exhausted by the continual growing of crops. Many growers would collect the dung from London stables on the return journey from market, when their wagons were empty.
The Bedfont area was surrounded by a vast number of fields for cultivation which can be seen in these pictures, taken in the 1930’s. The crops in the fields and orchards are laid out in rows. All of this land is now Heathrow Airport.
Herbert realised the need for different types of transport required by the farmers and market gardners in and around the Bedfont area. He produced a pattern book in which he drew his designs for carts and wagons. The customer would choose which vehicle best suited their needs and the firm would build it for them.
The following are a few designs from the pattern book.
