Telegraph Manchester Day Coach. English Coaching print.

by Havell, Robert

‘Royal Telegraph Manchester Day Coach’ large print from an aquatint attributed to Robert Havell, published in 1834.

The Manchester Telegraph, a very smart coach, passes the 54-mile post on the London to Manchester road, with elegantly attired passengers inside and outside. The Manchester Telegraph travelled the 186 miles in 18 hours, and its celebrated coachman, Harry Douglas, was an enormous man who ‘could gallop a coach without it swinging’ and ‘could drink as much as would scald a porker’.

Telegraph was built by England’s greatest coachmaker John Vidler, with improved lighter and stronger design, and devices for safety and comfort – including lowering the coaches’ centre of gravity by bending the perch that connected the fore and hind axles. Springs for the coachman’s box were henceforth in demand, and were known as ‘Telegraph springs'. Previously coachman’s boxes were forbidden springs in case the comfort induced sleep.

The principal proprietor of the Manchester Telegraph (whose name is on the door) was Edward Sherman who was one of the great coachmasters and stabled around 700 horses at the Bull and Mouth in St Martin’s-le-Grand. Like his great rival William Chaplin, Sherman had the vision to invest in railway stock and saved himself from ruin that most men of the road eventually suffered.

Vintage coaching print with slight age-discolouration and foxing. Page size is 30 x 51cm (15 x 20 inches). Image approx. 30 x 47cm (11 7/8 x 18.5 inches)