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Quick Details
Carriage Type
Governess Car
Date of Production
early 20th century
Accession or Inventory Number
ERD/WV/61
Materials used
Paint, Wood, IronSummary of Governess Car
Pretty much every estate would have had a Governess Cart in within the estate vehicles and so it is great to see one still on a country estate such as Erddig. This is a fairly standard example.
Governess Cars, sometimes called Tub Carts for obvious reasons, have a deep tub-shaped body with access through a door at the back, and seats each side. They were often used by a governess (hence the name), or possibly a mother, to take the children out for a drive. She would drive sitting diagonally in the back right-hand corner. Although the seat and the cushion on the right hand side have been shaped for this purpose, this would still have been difficult and uncomfortable. Only the quietest pony, or sometimes a donkey, was suitable to be driven to a Governess Car, not only because of the awkward driving position, but because it was difficult to get out quickly and run to his head if she needed to. The cranked axle allows the body to be mounted lower, dropping the centre of gravity and making it difficult to overturn.
Dimensions
Height: 4ft 4 ¾”
Length: 9ft 6 1/8”
Width: 5ft 2 ½”
Wheel Diameter: 3ft 8”
Full description
This Governess Cart is a fairly standard sort with steam bent upper panels and an angular shape footwell. The top rail is also steam bent and is on iron supports and has round ended splash guards on each side above the wheels. The door at the back is missing. A dashboard is mounted on the draft bar. Plain seat boards run along each side. On the offside is a recess halfway along the seat for the governess’ legs to sit within.
Attached to the underside of the body at the back is a step with a semi-circular tread to access the carriage. Somewhat bent lamp brackets are bolted to the underside of the seat boards there are no lamps. The shafts are mounted on fulcrum stays at the front of the footwell and on brackets bolted to the side of the footwell. They have iron tug stops and breeching staples. At the point of the breeching staples the shafts show signs of heavy use as the wood has a groove worn away. Pig tail trace hooks are attached to the draft bar.
The wheels are warner pattern with 14 spokes, iron shod with collinge patent axles (the caps are missing). Sprung on elliptic springs attached via plate brackets bolted to the underside of the seat boards and to the sides of the footwell.
Any original paintwork on this carriage has long since disappeared. It is now painted a rather horrid matt brown on the shafts and body with the springs, axle and ironwork being in black. The wheels are painted yellow.
Inscriptions
No Inscriptions
Condition report
Showing clear signs of heavy use over the years. All of the original paintwork has disappeared.
Access information
This Governess Car is in the care of The National Trust, Erddig.
Erddig
Wrexham
LL13 0YT
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig
Picture credit
The National Trust / Robert Lovell / Amy Bracey