Nothing establishes a Victorian
setting like a carriage going down a cobblestone street. For something so
iconic, a little more information can really immerse your games into the world
of gaslight. Until the 1900s, the word
carriage effectively meant a vehicle for transporting people, encompassing a
plethora of vehicles. In the 1850s, carriages became more economical and more
focused on carrying passengers comfortably. More and more middle class families
bought carriages causing an even greater variety in use, design, and levels of
luxury.
This series of posts focuses on
different sorts of carriages, and will give Game Masters enough information to
make any ride, chase, escape or traffic accident unique.
Brougham/Clarence
The body of a Brougham
(pronounced "broom"), contains a seating compartment for two
passengers. The body is boxy, but the sides curve and meet in the back. A step
hangs below the doors on the either side to help passengers step in. Glass
windows on the doors and the front of the body allow passengers to see out. The
driver and a footman or extra passenger sit on a box seat in the front of the
carriage. A single horse can pull the Brougham’s light four wheeled frame (only
800-100 lbs.).
The earliest Broughams had a
sword case in the back panel for weapons, a feature which may still be
available. In the 1840s-50s the brougham was one of the most commonly used
carriages by the middle and upper classes.
The Brougham has several variant
models and other types of carriages based on its design. A convertible version,
called the Brougham-Landaulet, had a
soft folding top and back. In the early 1840s carriage makers Laurie and
Marner built the Clarence. The Clarence differed from the Brougham by being
pulled by two horses, seating four passengers inside and lowering the driver’s
seat. Cabbies snatched up secondhand Clarences to use hackney carriages (the
forefathers of the modern taxi).
Wagonette
Some histories say, in 1845
Prince Albert introduced the design of a German carriage to Great Britain.
British carriage makers adapted the designs to make the Wagonette. Although the
story may not be true, the Wagonette saw much use from Queen Victorian and her
children.
Designed
for family transport, Wagonettes have long benches facing the middle along the
sides of the carriage. Benches could fit 4-6 comfortably, and children could be
squeezed in. The benches have space for luggage beneath, and some Wagonettes
had removable benches to make room for more cargo. As Wagonettes are open
topped, some came with removable covers to shield passengers from the elements.
The
driver sits on another slightly elevated bench across the front. Some Wagonettes
have a short door in the back to make it easier for passengers to board.
Simple, utilitarian, and pulled by one horse or two, people of all classes in
all different parts of the British Isles used Wagonettes,
Sociable
Sociables are open topped
carriages with curved boat-like front and back ends. Inside, a row of two seats
in the front and a row of two seats in the back face each other. With two rows
of passengers facing each other and exposed to the world around them, it’s not
hard to understand how this carriage got its name. Folding hoods at the front
and back could be pulled up over the seats to protect from the elements, and to
gain a little privacy.
There are a few optional elements
in Sociable design. One horse or a team of two horses could be used to pull it.
Not every Sociable had a driver’s box in the front, meaning a passenger in the
back did all the driving (hopefully one facing forward). Some Sociables have
side doors, a helpful addition. Despite the relative low-slung body, stepping
over and into a carriage could be quite a task to a well dressed lady.
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