Given the opportunity, which carriages would you most likely drive or ride in?

The Types:

• Two-wheeled vehicles drawn by one horse or a mule were typically for farm or trade use and included buggies and carts, with the most common vehicle for the road being the gig.

  
  

• Four-wheeled vehicles drawn by two or more horses were called carriages, generally speaking, and included chaises, landaus, coaches, etc.

  
  

• Chaise: four wheels (but could come in two), one to two ponies, used for pleasure or travel. Nicknamed “a yellow bounder” since they were always painted yellow. There was no coachman box or seat, rather a postillion would ride the horse pulling the chaise. These were closed carriages. Both front and rear platforms were for carrying luggage. Also called a post chaise.

  
  

• Coach: a coach is not synonymous with carriage, rather a coach is a specific type of carriage. The coach were four wheeled, closed, windowed on all sides, seating for four passengers, and typically drawn by six horses.

  
  

• Curricle: the sporting man’s vehicle. Light, two-wheeled, pulled by a pair of horses, and only useful for short trips. The body itself was little more than a narrow seat for 1-2 people, and the driver would be one of those persons. No room for luggage, additional passengers, tigers, or otherwise. So small and so lightweight, it was favored for racing by reckless youth.

  
  

The Models:

• Barouche: four-wheeled luxury carriage with vis-à-vis seating and a collapsible hood.

  
  

• Hackney: a coach for hire.

  
  

• Landau: four-wheeled luxury carriage with two-part folding hood that could be raised and lowered independently.

  
  

• Mail Coach: official mail coach with strict schedule and fixed routs to specific coaching inns. Pulled by six horses changed at regular intervals. Never paid toll charges, always had the right of way, and were always painted red and black. Prior to mail coaches, the mail was delivered by post riders.

  
  

• Phaeton: four-wheeled open carriage drawn by a pair of horses. Features a high perch favored by Corinthians in their sporty endeavors. Lightweight with a high tip factor. (Check out Regency History’s page for all the different types of Phaetons!) https://www.regencyhistory.net/blog/curricles-gigs-phaetons-regency-history-guide

  
  

• Stage Coach: four-wheeled carriages with enclosed seats and additional seating on the roof. Drawn by four horses. Fixed rate passage with stops for meals. For passengers, this is similar to traveling by mail, except the stage coaches offered additional routes and times.

  
  

• State Coach: the coach of the aristocracy. The design was the same as the Landau except the hood was closed, unlike the two-part folding hood of the Landau. The doors would be emblazoned by the coat of arms.

Be sure to check out these two pages for all the details you could ever want on the various types and models, including the ones listed above and those not included in the list:

https://regency-explorer.net/a-carriage-enthusiasts-paradise/

https://susannaives.com/wordpress/2015/11/whats-your-ride-carriages-in-1828/