Black and white

Acc.no: PEZPH : 2016.50.601

Identification

Item: Visitors to Penzance in Warren's Jersey Car.

Description: The Jersey Car was very popular in Jersey and Guernsey for visitor excursions and became popular in England. This photograph of the four horse drawn vehicle shows a full wagon or 'charabanc' prior to an outing from Penzance. There are five benches with low backs. The front bench has two passengers on either side of the driver, who sits on a raised seat. There are five benches with five passengers per bench which meant that the Jersey car had a maximum capacity of 25 passengers. The two men holding the horses steady for the photo and the two at the rear are probably Warren's employees and the well dressed man holding the lead horses could be Mr Warren. It was common practice for photographs to be taken before the excursion, which were then available for sale the next day, and available as postcards from the beginning of the 20th century. The passengers were always well dressed, in suits for men and long dresses for ladies and hats for everyone. On hilly sections of the road to Lands End or Logan Rock, for example, gentlemen would have to alight and walk alongside. The horse drawn charabanc was the precursor of the motor charabanc, with benches and a side door or each bench, in the early decades of the 20th century which later developed into touring coaches.

Condition: Good

Description

Material: Photographic paper

Production

Method: Printed

Category: Photography

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