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"We'll
call a cab and go together." -- Dr. John H. Watson
(ENGI)
The Canon
mentions several types of transportation used by the
Detective, his chronicler, and their visitors. But,
by far, the most commonly used method of transportation
is via equine means. Without those beautiful beasts,
the detective and his chronicler would not have gotten
very far at all.
The shape
of many of today's breeds of horses was just beginning
to take its current form during Victorian times. Certainly,
Victorian England has its share of thoroughbreds (as
in SILV) and
desert-bred Arabians were continuing to be imported.
18th Century Depiction of a Thoroughbred |
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Modern Thoroughbred |
Early Victorian
times saw the foundation of the Anglo-Arab in England
and other native breeds had already been established
(or were being established) which included Cleveland
Bays (or Chapman Horses), Fell Ponies, Dales Ponies,
Shetland Ponies, and New Forest Ponies. There were undoubtedly
Spanish Andalusians, Hackneys, Irish Drafts, Norman
Cobs, Hanoverians, Welsh Cobs, and Connemara Ponies
floating around England at the same time. The Shire
has always been one of the premier English draft horse
breeds along with the Suffolk Punch, and the Clydesdale.
Other draft horse breeds in England at the time probably
included Percherons, Ardennais, and Bretons.
Horses referred
to as "hacks" were thoroughbred riding horses,
and "Cobs" were any stout, powerful horses
used for harness and saddle.
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Exmoor Pony
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When
Stapleton talks of the "moor ponies,"
in HOUN,
he is undoubtedly referring to a member of the Exmoor
Ponies or the Dartmoor Ponies, likely the latter.
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Dartmoor Pony
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Although
the gentry would have probably owned thoroughbreds,
cab men likely would have owned mixed blood cobs or
working horses which, while hardworking and durable,
would have defied the label of a breed.
And when
these hardworking everyday horses went to work, they
were most likely hooked to a carriage, of which several
types are mentioned.
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See
Below
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A Cab
was a one-horse vehicle for public hire, often
a "hansom cab." The "London Growler"
(or Clarence) was the most common 4-wheeled cab.
(Various)
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A Hansom
Cab was a two-wheeled, covered carriage with
the driver's seat above and behind the passengers
drawn by one horse carrying a maximum of two passengers.
(STUD, SIGN, HOUN,
SCAN, REDH, IDEN, TWIS, ENGI, CROO, GREE, NAVA,
FINA, EMPT, DANC, CHAR, LADY, ILLU, CREE, VEIL)
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A Dog-Cart
was developed from the 18th Century English shooting
gig; and it was designed as a hunting cart where
the dogs would be carried in the slat-ventilated
box. It accommodated a total of two or three people,
two seated in front and another seated back to
back with the front passengers - usually a groom
would ride facing rearward (with his feet resting
on the lowered end-gate). The dog-cart is usually
drawn by a single horse but can be drawn by a
team (of 2). (VALL,
SPEC, GLOR)
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See
Below
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A Four-Wheeler
was any hackney carriage or coach with 4 wheels.
(STUD, SIGN, IDEN,
BLUE, STOC, GREE, NAVA, NORW, PRIO, BLAC, SIXN,
REDC)
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A Trap
was a light weight 4- or a 2-wheeled passenger
vehicle with springs for a team of 2 horses or
a single horse. The front seats are split, allowing
access for the rear passengers. (HOUN)
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A Brougham
(or Gentleman's Brougham) was an enclosed
four-wheeled carriage with an open driver's seat
in front. This was unlikely to be used as a cab
because it was usually driven by two horses (and
hence was more of an expense). In SCAN,
Holmes notes "A nice little brougham and
a pair of beauties" at his curb. In MISS,
Holmes observes "A brougham and pair of grays."
(STUD, RESI, FINA, ILLU)
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The
Clarence was a 4-wheeled, carriage nicknamed
the "Growler" or "London
Growler" for the noise it made when running
over stone roads. It was used for private and
for hire work, and it could be drawn by a single
(or, less likely because of its width, by a pair
of horses). Holmes comments on the Growler in
STUD, "I
satisfied myself that it was a cab and not a private
carriage by the narrow gauge of the wheels. The
ordinary London growler is considerably less wide
than a gentleman's brougham."
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A Landau
was a four-wheeled carriage with a roof in two
sections that can be lowered or detached. It also
had front and back passenger seats that faced
each other. (SCAN,
SILV)
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A Wagonette
was a type of pleasure wagon, uncovered and with
seats extended along the sides, designed to carry
six or eight persons besides the driver.
(HOUN)
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A
Drag was a type of wagonette usually with
four-horses for four-in-hand driving: 412 NEW (SILV) |
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An
Omnibus (or 'bus) of the time was a carriage
pulled by two horses. It was enclosed, and there
were seats for passengers on the inside and the
roof. (NAVA) |
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A
Van, often drawn by two-horses (FINA,
Unpublished Archive of the Grosvenor Square Van)
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