Pony phaeton
Cheverton
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
1893
Materials
Leather, Rubber, Textile, Wood
Measurements
269 x 111 x 122 cms (105 3/4 x 43 1/2 x 48 in)
Place of origin
Newport
Order this imageCollection
National Trust Carriage Museum
NT 272869
Summary
Pony Phaeton built by Cheverton, Isle of Wight for Queen Victoria in 1893. With a single seat, cut-under body and convex back panel. Sockets on waist rails and bolts on back of body for leather head which have been removed. Socket for parasol on top back rail. Painted in maroon, lined bright red, and with a royal cypher on the side panels.
Full description
This little carriage – sometimes referred to as a pony bath chair - was built by the carriage builder Bird Cheverton of Newport, Isle of Wight, for Queen Victoria and was used by her at Osborne House. It is painted in the royal colours of maroon, lined bright red, and has a royal cipher on the side panels. The position of the brake lever shows that the attendant (perhaps even the celebrated John Brown) walked behind the carriage and could apply the brake when necessary. Queen Victoria owned several very similar vehicles, two further examples are in the Tyrwhitt-Drake Carriage Collection in Maidstone. There are numerous photographs of Queen Victoria in pony phaetons, two of which are shown here. The carriage was acquired by the Science Museum in 1936. It was part of a group of nine carriages presented to the Science Museum by Edward VIII in November just before his abdication. Although having been used at Osborne House the pony phaeton had been kept in the mews at Windsor Castle. A letter from the Keeper of the Science Museum dated July 1938 records, “Last year through Erskine the Crown Equerry, I was allowed to select nine carriages from the Royal Mews (before Edward VIII put them under the hammer). I raked the BP and Windsor mews myself and Erskine said there was nothing of any interest left at Balmoral or Sandringham.” The carriage has an angular cut-under body and still has its original fitted leather apron. The 8 and 10 spoke English pattern wheels have rubber tyres and elliptic springs are fitted front and back. The very simple forecarriage is made of iron and attached to the body by two elegant curved stays.
Provenance
This was donated in 1936 by HM King Edward VIII with several other Victorian Carriages. (info supplied by Science Museum). Built for Queen Victoria and used at Osborne House. Science Museum records and Royal Library, Windsor photographs.
Makers and roles
Cheverton, coach builder
References
Carriage Driving, October – November 1993, pp.24-25 (illustrated) Carriage Driving