Stanhope (carriage)
Stanhope refers to the Stanhope Gig, one of several English carriages named after its designer the Hon. Fitzroy Stanhope, a sportsman.[a]
Overview
[edit]Stanhope designed several carriages, each bearing his name as was typical of the time period, and built by the London coachbuilder Tilbury. The first design, the Stanhope Gig built in the 1810s, was a gig with a storage boot under the seat, a crosswise seat for two, no hood or top, bent shafts reinforced with ironwork, and four springs.The next design was the Stanhope Buggy, an English buggy which is basically a lighter weight gig with a falling hood. He also designed the Stanhope Phaeton, a lightweight four-wheeled Phaeton carriage with two crosswise seats, a falling hood over the front seat, and the rear seat was for a servant or liveried groom. The shortened form "Stanhope" refers to the gig style, which by 1830 was the most common two-wheeled carriage seen around London. Many modern gigs are designed around the original Stanhope.[3][4][5][6]
The Stanhope Gig's new spring design consisted of "four springs, two side and two cross, forming a square; these supported the body of the vehicle". The Stanhope springs configuration was used on many gigs and carriages.[2]: 85–6, 89–90 Fitzroy Stanhope also designed the Tilbury gig, this time named after the builder, which omitted the storage boot and had a seven-spring configuration.[3][4][5][6]
-
Stanhope Gig -
Stanhope Buggy -
Stanhope Phaeton
See also
[edit]- Tilbury (carriage)
- Stanhope (car), an early auto body
Notes
[edit]- ^ There were multiple people referred to as "Hon. Fitzroy Stanhope", the name given in all contemporary sources. According to Straus (1912)[1]: 235 and Gilbey (1905)[2]: 89 , this one was "brother of Lord Petersham", placing him as Rev. Hon. FitzRoy Henry Richard Stanhope (1787–1864), fifth son of Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington.
References
[edit]- ^ Straus, Ralph (1912). Carriages & Coaches: Their history & their evolution. Martin Secker. OL 7060904M.
- ^ a b Gilbey, Sir Walter (1905). Modern Carriages. Vinton & Co. OL 23619083M.
- ^ a b Smith, D.J.M. (1988). A Dictionary of Horse Drawn Vehicles. J. A. Allen & Co. Ltd. pp. 27, 130, 153–4, 161. ISBN 0851314686. OL 11597864M.
- ^ a b Berkebile, Donald H. (1978). Carriage Terminology: An Historical Dictionary. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. pp. 52, 262. ISBN 9781935623434. OL 33342342M.
- ^ a b Walrond, Sallie (1979). The Encyclopaedia of Driving. Country Life Books. pp. 133, 196, 254–5. ISBN 0600331822. OL 4175648M.
- ^ a b Walrond, Sallie (1980). Looking at Carriages. Pelham Books. pp. 72–3. ISBN 0720712823. OL 3828623M.