This carriage database discusses the history of the carriage and its uses over time. Included are links to specific makes of carriages, which lead to more detailed information or definition about that type, ie. landau, barouche, mail coach, phaeton, etc. In some instances, images accompany the pages. (Click on reference, then carriage). Update: Something seems to be wrong with the first link to the carriage database. I shall update this post as soon as I find the link again. This link to A Catalogue of Horse drawn vehicles 1896 catalogue of E. S. Annison, Coach Builder, of Hull, features drawings of his carriages and their latest design (late 19th century). Internet Archive provides a downloadable PDF book with images, Carriages and Coaches: their history and their evolution, fully illustrated with reproductions from old prints, contemporary drawings and photographs (1912). This entry in Carriages in Indopediais contemporary and provides links to definitions and information.
Mail Coach, 1827
The Georgian Index features an excellent page on Carriages and their Parts. Highways and Horses, Athol Maudslay, 1888 is an illustrated Google book that discusses carriages and transportation during the Victorian period in great detail. On the fronticepiece, Mr. Maudslay writes :
// More about the topic on this blog:
- Victorian and Edwardian Horse Cabs
- A Grim Reality: The Life of a Coach Horse in Regency England
- Coach Travel in the 19th Century: Bianconi Coaches in Ireland
- Cost of Maintaining a Horse in Regency London
- History of Transport and Travel
- Traveling of Carriage Clock and the Coach Clock
Dear Vic,
As usual, wonderful information – do you know the Juvenilia piece about Mr Clifford?
Mr Clifford lived at Bath; and having never seen London, set off one Monday morning determined to feast his eyes with a sight of that great Metropolis. He travelled in his Coach and Four, for he was a very rich young Man and kept a great many Carriages of which I do not recollect half. I can only remember that he had a Coach, a Chariot, a Chaise, a Landeau, a Landeaulet, a Phaeton, a Gig, a Whisky, an Italian Chair, a Buggy, a Curricle & a wheelbarrow. He had likewise an amazing fine stud of Horses. To my knowledge he had six Greys, 4 Bays, eight Blacks and a poney.
Now I can visualise them – I did look up ‘whisky’ because poor Jane Cooper was killed in one a few years after her marriage. According to Jane’s nephew, ‘She was a dear friend of her namesake, but was fated to become a cause of great sorrow to her, for a few years after the marriage she was suddenly killed by an accident to her carriage.’
Cora
I love this blog–thank you for all of your work on the site.
Is there something wrong with the first link? It does not go to a carriage database at all.
Thank you once again and good eventide,
Mare
Mare, thank you for your compliment! Something IS wrong with the link, and I cannot get past the Search.com front page. Perhaps their server is down. I will try to find an alternate link. Vic