Trustworthy, bureaucrat, administrator
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In 1860 Bantock owned 51 canal boats working from GW/OWW transfer wharves on the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN). In 1861 he was still the Duke of Bridgwater’s Trustees District agent too. Bantock boats were based throughout the Black Country including 5 boats at Stourbridge (1858 to 1956) and 3 at [[Stourport]]. The Great Western had its own narrow boats working on the BCN and in 1866 Bantock hired 16 boats from the GWR at £15 per month. Thomas Bantock and Company expanded their interests becoming an ironmaster, coal mining (Ettingshall Lodge Colliery, Springvale 1865-90), and boat builder at Ettingshall Dock, Millfields. They built for themselves and the GWR completing 116 boats by 1895. They were said to have built their own railway wagons at the same works. The Company offices were now based at the rear of Albion Wharf at Herbert Street, Wolverhampton.
Bantock was a liberal supporter who was elected to the Wolverhampton Town Council in 1861 for St Marys Ward (a poor community). He was one of a group of men from Queen Street Congregational Church who were concerned with their children’s education and started Tettenhall College in 1862 for those of tender means. He moved with his family to Merridale House, a former 18th century farmhouse, one mile west of Wolverhampton town centre in 1864, making big improvements. He never forgot his Scottish routes roots keeping a small herd of Highland cattle in the grounds. He was made mayor of Wolverhampton in 1869 where he was instrumental in the building of the Free Library in Garrick Street.
Thomas Bantock expanded his cartage agreements with the GWR to include most of the Black Country goods yards and also [[Bewdley]], [[Kidderminster]] and [[Stourport]]. Haulage was, of course, all by horse with stables and, sometimes, offices for Bantock’s staff at the busier yards. In 1878 various horse drawn vehicles were bought by the GWR from Bantocks for £150. These included 1 open dray and 1 covered dray at Bewdley, 2 open drays and I covered van from Stourport and 18 open drays, 2 covered wagons, 1 parcel van and 1 float from Kidderminster. No horses or harnesses were acquired as the GWR had their own. However, Bantock's continued to operate their own horses and vehicles at most of these places.
