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Listed in 1 collection
Listed at 1 museum
Listed for 1 maker
Quick Details
Carriage Type
Butcher's Cart
Date of Production
circa 1900
Materials used
Paint, Wood, IronSummary of Butcher's Cart
A local trade vehicle used by H. Betts of 15 Earl Street Maidstone. The Betts family were successful butchers who owned a number of shops around the town.
This is a delightful little trade vehicle and everything a Butchers Cart ought to be being well built and practical. It has no fancy decoration but would have still been eye catching with once bright paintwork.
Dimensions
Height: 6ft3 ½”
Length: 10ft 4 ½”
Width: 5ft
Full description
This Butchers Cart is made to accommodate quite a small pony of around 13hh. It is very solidly built and shows decades of use. The shafts have a lovely patina and are heavily worn around the tug stops. It has so much character and has clocked up hundreds of miles delivering fresh meat around Maidstone and the surrounding villages.
The body is of a box form with a slightly domed roof. On the roof is a small seat with a single seat rail. The driver would sit with their feet on the footboard which is attached to a wood platform that runs from one side to the other at the front, the platform has a recess in the centre. The seat has a cushion which is smaller than the seat itself and may not be original. The front panel of the body of the cart has louvres for air circulation. Its front edges are finished with a slight S curve and are edged with an iron strip. Each side has a plain built panel with signwriting. The back has a single door which drops down on hinges.
Iron steps are bolted to the underside of the front platform, they have rectangular, skeletal jagged plates. The shafts have a slight curve to them and are wonderfully worn to a smooth surface at the tug stop point. They have a strengthening brace in wood at the draw bar end. Breeching staples are fitted to the outside of the shafts.
The Butchers Cart has 16 spoke Warner pattern wheels on collinge axles with iron tyres. The axle is straight.
Trade vehicles were nearly always brightly painted and sign written with the name of the proprietor and the trade they represented. They had to be eye catching to attract passing trade and the advertise the business. This Butcher’s Cart seems to have been painted dark green (now rather discoloured) and sign written in white and red.
Inscriptions
On the side panels: H Betts in goldl ettering
One the tailboard: telephone number?
Condition report
A really super trade vehicle in original condition. It is worn and battered but it illustrates the career it has had. The paintwork is missing on parts of the shafts and is rather dirty throughout. The components appear sound.
Access information
This Butcher's Cart is in the care of the Tyrwhitt-Drake Carriage Museum
Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery
St Faith's Street,
Maidstone
ME14 1LH
Picture credit
Maidstone Museum and Bentliff Art Gallery / Amy Bracey / Robert Lovell