What Carriage Do You Drive?

Your car says a lot about you. And in today’s world, you have a lot of cars you can choose from to ferry you around. The Regency was no different. There were a lot of options available. And just like today, the carriage you drove spoke volumes about the size of your wallet and your personality.

Since the array of carriages available during the Regency can be a little confusing, below are some of the general types of conveyances you could have found during the time period. The list isn’t all inclusive, but it covers some of the different types of transport you’ll often find in historical romances:

Pony Cart

Pretty much like it sounds, a cart was a no-frills wagon with two wheels and no suspension. It was drawn by a single horse and was something a merchant or farmer would use.

Dog-Cart

Dog-carts were similar to a Brea in that they were intended for sportsmen to get around with their dogs and gear. Originating from a gig, they were light weight and could carry four men sitting back to back with room for their dogs beneath them The also featured a deep boot, or trunk, for game.

Buggy

Seating only one person and drawn by one horse, these were lightweight conveyances open to the air.

Chaise

Originating in France during the French Revolution, a chaise was sometimes referred to as a a chay or shay. Evolving over time, for fast travel and carrying post, they featured a closed body with four wheels and were drawn by a team of two to four horses.  They could seat two to four people. Those that were for hire, known as Post Chaises, were always painted a bright yellow and sometimes called a “yellow bounder.”

Curricle

Curricles were similar to Phaetons, and just as notorious, in that they were the sports models of the day and were naturally a favorite among the young men. Whereas Phaetons had four wheels, curricles had only two Curricles were light, two-wheeled vehicles pulled by a pair of horses that were used for short trips

Four-in-hand

As the name implies, this was a vehicle pulled by four horses and driven by one person.

Gig

 Gigs were light, two-wheeled vehicles that were usually pulled by a single horse. They seated two people and were some of the most common conveyances on road, and were super popular in the country. While not fashionable, they were definitely practical.

Specific Vehicles by Name

Barouche

Perfect for rides in the park, the barouche was a fashionable summer ride with a collapsible top. It had two passenger seats that faced one another and a driver’s seat in the front.

Break (Brake)

This conveyance was more intended for country gentlemen. It had four-wheels and usually had no hood. You entered from the rear and sat in long bench seats that ran the length and faced one another. It was large enough to hold up to six men, along with their gear and hunting dogs. It even had a side boot (or trunk) for game.

 Hackney

These were taxis and cabs of yesteryear. These were coaches or carriages that could be hired for transport. They were often older conveyances the high born had cast off as they aged and showed wear and tear.

Landau

Another luxurious conveyance, a landau featured a suspension on elliptical springs and had low sporty sides that allowed the less fortunate to view the opulent carriage and its occupants. It was a four-wheeled carriage with a two-part folding hood. Each side of the top could be raised and lowered independently of one another. With space for four passengers, they typically had a raised driver’s seat (upholstered, of course!) and a groom’s seat raised high above the rear axle.

Phaeton

Ah, the sports car of the era!  A phaeton was a low-slung, stylish open carriage with four wheels. It was generally drawn by a pair of equally stylish horses. They were fast and could be dangerous.

Town Coach:  I can’t help but think this is what the modern day Town Car was named for. It was the epitome of luxury, and only the super wealthy could afford them. Similar to a landau, they were typically large and luxurious. Sturdy with a hard top, they were pulled by as many as six horses and sometimes called a closed carriage. They usually had family crests and coats of arms emblazoned on the doors (just in case anyone needed to be reminded how important they were).