It was in 1926 that WW and CC Stinson of Whitwick (nr Coalville in Leicestershire) established Skegness Motor Services. They operated from premises in Grosvenor Road. Daily services were operated to Mablethorpe, Spilsby, Sutton-on-Sea, and Alford. A town service commenced in 1933 between the depot and the Clock Tower.
The adjoining house was constructed in the 1930's as premises for he Depot Superintendent, a common feature of bus companies in the era. A Lincolnshire Road Car office was opened on the lower floor, and dealt with parcels, as well as bookings for excursions and National Express services, this being closed in Autumn 1977. The house remained in Lincolnshire Road Car ownership up to 1983 when it was leased to a Printing Firm. It was eventually sold to Ellis Brothers builders (who have premises at the rear of the depot) and is now a private residence.
In 1934 Skegness Motor Services were taken over by the Lincolnshire Road Car Company, the route between the depot and the Clock Tower was then numbered 95 and was suspended following the outbreak of War and was not reinstated. In more recent times, the depot did retain a solitary service to convey school pupils, the last ever will be the school contract run EE03.
The depot was to remain under the ownership Lincolnshire Road Car. It underwent a number of modifications over the years, one of the most significant being in the mid-1980's when the covered section at the eastern end which housed single deckers, was demolished to leave an open compound.
After 83 years, the depot will close it's doors for the last time on September 6th.
Skegness depot in 1980
A comparison shot taken this afternoon
Another view from today from the opposite direction. Note the For Sale board already up!
Lincolnshire Road Car's 2516 outside the depot in 1980
Over the years, the depot has had a number of unusual visitors - in this instance in 1977 is Scottish Omnibuses SFS 373H, well off it's route from London to Edinburgh!
Such was the popularity of Skegness north of the Border, that a number of express coach services operated during the summers from the mid 80's, often resulting in all manner of duplicates being run using Scottish Bus Group vehicles - even double deckers, as illustrated by Eastern Scottish C176 VSF in 1989. 
HTML clipboardA pair of Plaxton bodied Leyland PSU3's, the leading vehicle being TRN 746, which was new to Ribble in November 1963. Thet are illustrated in summer 1977 outside the Lincolnshire Road Car depot in Skegness, presumably for refuelling, before returning with the National Express service 340 to the North-East. TRN 746 appears to be working a duplicate as far as Durham, whilst presumably the following vehicle will work through to Newcastle.
(Our thanks to P.N. Hill, former Managing Director of Lincolnshire Road Car for additional information)
Surrounded by semaphores, 43081 leads the 1708 to Nottingham out of Skegness with 43059 at the rear
Stagecoach bus services were extremely busy today and subject to the usual delays caused by the traffic lights at Fantasy Island. To avoid long gaps between runs, a "tidal flow" system was operated during the afternoon where two vehicles were sent direct via the A52 to Anchor Lane returning by the normal route. This lead to the unusual sight of four open toppers following each other from Butlins to Skegness in the mid-afternoon (15958, 15952, 15994 and 15991)!
The number of coaches on day excursions in the Richmond Drive Coach Park was rather pitiful, amounting to just 22 in total!
Also at Skegness Richmond Coach Park was East Yorkshire's DC54 EYC
Only one vehicle was required to work the X12 to Peterborough today, and 18422 is seen at the bus station compound before departure. Unlike the previous day, there were plenty of seats available!
