With the Hark Forward Post Coach, Standwell’s coaching business was rapidly expanding its itinerary and its fleet of vehicles. It travelled between Stamford and Melton, enabling people to connect with London by the following day. Coaching inns (and Standwell’s Hotel) were also a lucrative source of income.
‘The public are respectfully informed, that a new, light, and elegant POST COACH, called the HARK FORWARD, will commence running on TUESDAY next, from the HOTEL, STAMFORD, every Morning at Half-past Six o’clock, and arrive at the BELL HOTEL, MELTON, at Half-past Nine o’clock.
The Proprietors of the above Coach, desirous of giving the accommodation so long wished for by Noblemen and Gentlemen, beg to inform them, that by making arrangements with T. STANDWELL, they can receive their Letters and Parcels at Empingham at a quarter past 7 o’clock, at Exton at half-past 7 o’clock, at Cottesmore at a quarter before 8 o’clock, at Market Overton at a quarter past 8 o’clock, at Teigh at half-past 8 o’clock, at Edmondthorpe and Wymondham at a quarter before 9 o’clock, at Stapleford at 9 o’clock, and at Melton at half-past 9 o’clock. The Hark Forward will leave Melton at half-past 3 o’clock, through the above villages, and arrive in Stamford in time for the South Mails, and Rockingham and Express Coaches.
Letters, Passengers, and Parcels, can arrive by 10 o’clock the following morning in London.
Performed by STANDWELL and Co., Stamford ; and SHARPE and Co., Melton Mowbray.
Hotel, Stamford, Nov. 27, 1828.‘
Stamford Mercury, 28th November, 1828.