Regency Trivia – Hired Transport

Stagecoaches

Stagecoaches (not to be confused with Mail Coaches) were used widely around the country as a fairly inexpensive way of travel. The name derives from the “stages” or routes they traveled. Unlike the mail coach, stagecoaches crisscrossed the country. The coach made between 5-7 miles an hour, changing horses every 2-3 hours. Passengers could depart the coach at any point and take another stagecoach traveling in the direction they wished to go. Unless the coach was an express between two large cities, stagecoaches stopped at night. The companies’ owners used their own horses posted along the route. The coach traveled in segments or “stages,” thus the name. Inns servicing stagecoaches were called staging or coaching inns. This is where a passenger could have a meal, freshen up, or spend the night before traveling on.

Travel by stagecoach was not without its problems. People were usually stuffed into the coaches. In the event of difficulties, such as going up a steep hill or the coach becoming stuck in mud or snow, passengers were expected to get out and walk or help get the coach moving again. There were also highway men, and young men who’d bribe a coachman to allow them to drive, thus placing the other passengers in danger.

According to History UK “The Regency period saw great improvements in coach design and road construction, leading to greater speed and comfort for passengers. For example, in 1750 it took around 2 days to travel from Cambridge to London, but by 1820 the journey time had been slashed to under 7 hours. This was the golden age of the stagecoach. Coaches now travelled at around 12 miles per hour, with four coaches per route, two going in each direction with two spare coaches in case of a breakdown.”

Bath Stagecoach Map.

Bath Stagecoach

Fully loaded stagecoach

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