As well as producing main line coaches, Sir Nigel Gresley also built non-corridor designs for suburban and branch line services.  The majority of these were mounted on 51-ft underframes and were allocated to the North British and Great Eastern sections.  This coach is one of this type.  It was built in 1925 by Metropolitan Cammell to diagram 56, having eight third-class compartments and was push-pull fitted.  Originally allocated to the North British section, No. 22219 later moved south to former GE metals, where it operated on the Southminster, Audley End and Ongar branches. This carriage carried additional numbers during its life.

It was withdrawn from passenger service in 1959, and converted to a staff sleeping and mess-coach, with departmental number DE320832, based in East Anglia.  Purchased in 1982, it moved to Quainton in 1983.