Synopses & Reviews
There is more than a touch of romance about a coach and horses, whether it be the splendid state coach in a royal procession drawn by a team of ornately harnessed greys, or the mail-coach clattering over the cobbles of an inn's courtyard, pausing to replace its steaming horses with a fresh team. In the eighteenth century regular stage-coaches linked London with principal towns. Railways took over long-distance traffic in the nineteenth century, but horse-drawn vehicles continued to serve as cabs, station wagons, omnibuses and private conveyances until displaced by motor vehicles. Many can now be found in museums, but a considerable number of privately driven carriages are still in use, and the sport of driving is undergoing a revival. This book traces the evolution of horse-drawn passenger vehicles, tells how they were made and driven, and describes the types of carriage most popular in Britain and some foreign designs. It is a valuable guide for the enthusiast, and a fascinating introduction for the person who may not know a landau from a barouche.
About the Author
D. J. Smith was born in 1927 and attended the University College of Cardiff. His interests included transport history and military uniforms, and he wrote several books on the subject, including Discovering Horse-Drawn Farm Machinery, Discovering Horse-Drawn Vehicles, and Robert Stephenson for Shire.