United Dairies Graiseley 90 pedestrian XMP 457

Manufacturers are very clever at designing delivery vehicles that can access and turn in tight spaces. Often, however, something even smaller is needed. Many thousands of these battery-electric vehicles were produced, steered and controlled by a person walking at the front.

Graiseley was the most prolific builder of pedestrian-controlled electric vehicles and for many years they were made in Wolverhampton by Diamond Motors. Full speed when laden was 2.5 mph on level ground. Production began in 1935, reaching 50 vehicles a week at its peak, and ended around 1970. Dairies were the main buyers but there were plenty of other users such as bakeries, hospitals and factories.

XMP 457 most likely was new to the London area for door-to-door milk deliveries, later moving to United Dairies' Uttoxeter depot. Later still it was transferred for use around the Stilton cheese factory at Swepstone, Leicestershire. By now part of Unigate, the Swepstone premises were closed in 1975 and XMP 457 was bought by the works manager who had looked after it, Mr Walter Grewcock.

Preservation

Mr Grewcock kept XMP 457 in his garden at Swepstone and occasionally his children would 'take it for a walk'! Eventually the battery failed, the children lost interest, and nature took over. After the death of his parents, Mr Grewcock's son wished it to enter a museum and approached the Abbey Pumping Station at Leicester which in turn contacted us. In January 2002 we dismantled the Graiseley to get it out of the garden! This was work required anyway to begin its restoration which was completed in 2005.