Who We Are

Our business was started by Uncle Joe in 1912. With his trusty coal horse he began to give great service at competitive prices, something that we have carried on to this day. A family business ever since, it has passed down from father to son and nowadays is no different. Dennis passed the business to Adrian who continues to strive for customer satisfaction with every bag delivered.

Staying true to form, another Wainwright has now joined the ranks. When you call the office to place an order you will speak to Stephanie, Dennis’s youngest daughter, who can give you trusted, impartial advice on the kind of fuels best suited to your needs and price range.

A little story

In 1914 when war broke out Joe didn’t have to go to war as coal merchant was a reserved occupation meaning they were exempt from being called up. Joe went to all of his customers and told them that he was going to enlist and asked them to wait for him. He went and fought in the trenches of France for 4 long years. He was lucky enough to return in 1918 where he returned to his round and his customers, who all came back to him as promised.

After the war Joe bought another coal horse called Jim. Jim was an American horse with US stamped on his hooves.

He had been on the frontline and had an old war wound that never healed on his forelock. People would come out of their houses to see the war hero horse.

Dennis remembers fondly “We had a couple of horses in my lifetime, Jim, Billy and Big Andy. Big Andy was retired in 1950 to a farm in Ford Hayes Lane but my dad, Freddy, and I would go and visit him some Sundays to take him an apple and see how the old lad was doing”