Brougham
Allen & Co.
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
circa 1900
Materials
Painted wood body with wool cloth upholstery and four rubber shod wheels.
Measurements
216 x 278 x 175cm (7ft 1in x 9ft 1 1/2in x 5ft 9in)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Erddig, Wrexham
NT 1152616
Caption
As with the Donkey Cart in the Erddig Estate carriage collection this is an example of how one type of carriage has been converted into another. Originally this carriage would have been a Stanhope Phaeton or a Wagonette which seated people in the back without cover. At a later date, perhaps during the second Word War, an enclosed compartment was added converting the carriage into a small Private Omnibus.
Summary
Carriage. A private Omnibus by Allen of Long Acre, London , c1900 for a single or pair of horses. This four wheeled carriage has been converted from a Stanhope Phaeton or a Wagonette into an omnibus, probably around the time of WW2. The elliptic sprung undercarriage supports a small enclosed body of angular profile. The drivers seat has a spindle back and a leather dashboard in front. Unholstered in brown cloth. Painted in a livery of black with brown and white lining. This is another example in the Erddig carriage collection of an older carriage being converted at a later date. The wheels are probably the original front wheels and the axle caps are engraved Allen, Long Acre. The body was originally a light and pretty spindle back Stanhope Phaeton (or possibly a T cart) with very fine spindles and a padded top rail. It has a nice but simple fore-carriage, hand brake, folding passenger step and an unusual check spring, possibly added when the new body made it possible to carry more passengers. A new fixed top has been added to the body converting it into a useful but very inappropriate miniature private omnibus. This is clearly of much later construction (possibly 2nd World War), very plainly styled and built, with buttoned cloth linings, plain brown broad laces and roller blinds at the windows.
Provenance
Given by Phillip Yorke III (1905-1978) along with the estate, house and contents to the National Trust in 1973
Marks and inscriptions
On front nearside axle cap.: ALLEN LONG ACRE On front offside axle cap.: ALLEN LONG ACRE On rear nearside axle cap.: ALLEN LONG ACRE On rear offside axle cap.: ALLEN LONG ACRE
Makers and roles
Allen & Co., carriage builder