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Coaching Inns in the 19th century

mikejee said:
I think it is not https, and this means that on some browsers you cannot see it. I get message that site is not secure, but by going to advanced and then clicking on bottom of the page I can see it. It is quite interesting. Possibly one of the techies on the forum can explain better
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Thank you Mike & thank you Joe! Great article........
 
harlechjoe said:
A few months ago forum members were extremely generous with the supply of information to aid my understanding of the route followed by a stagecoach service called the Wonder that operated between Shrewsbury and London on a daily basis. Both Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens were amongst its passengers.

My intentions to cycle along the route of the Wonder were postponed due to the limitations on travel and accommodation brought on by the Coronavirus.

I have completed a 2 day cycle ride that follows the stagecoach route from Harlech to Shrewsbury which was one of several feeder routes from Wales into Shrewsbury, where passengers could board the Wonder service to London. Charles Darwin used the route from Barmouth immediately before his departure to London.

So this is the link to Part 1of my story and will send part 2 for forum members to later in the year: www.harlechjoe.wordpress.com
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harlechjoe said:
A stagecoach named The Wonder journeyed from Shrewsbury to London in a day. Famous passengers included Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens.
I am planning a cycle ride to retrace the route and have obtained a stagecoach timetable that says The Wonder would stop in Birmingham and obtain fresh horses before riding to its next staging post in Coventry.
Do any members of this forum know the name of the Birmingham coaching Inn that this stagecoach may have used. I am assuming the Inn would be in the city centre.
Your advice will be welcomed. Thank you - Joe
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I am please to inform forum members that I have completed the bicycle ride that retraces a 19h century coaching route that went through the City Of Birmingham following the Road to Holyhead. As Charles Dickens was a regular traveller his journeys provided material for writings and paint a picture of coaching days and coaching life. My story contains quotes from his work. On the last occasion I attempted to post a link to my story on the forum page, it didn't work. So to access my cycling blog you may have to exit the forum and do an internet search for harlechjoe.wordpress.com and hope you enjoy reading what you find. May I thank forum members for your advice an interest in this historic route. Stay safe, Joe
 
A fascinating insight into the route Harlechjoe. Thank you.

I hadn’t realised how much organisation was involved with the coaches in terms of the volume of horses needed, the coaching inn arrangements, timings etc. I knew they changed the horses but didn’t realise how frequently this was done. It must have been a major exercise to stable and prepare the horses when several coaches were due. Makes me wonder how the Hen and Chickens in New Street were able to provide that service.

I couldn’t help but think about the effect on people travelling the coach for the first time; a mixture of fear, excitement, anticipation and uncomfortableness for many, many miles !

And an amazing personal achievement for you too, more so during the pandemic.

Thanks for sharing with us.

Viv.
 
In his cycle ride along the coaching route to Holyhead, Harlech Joe headed for Meriden and the Bull's Head. His blog includes the same picture as Dennis was puzzled about and posted on the Thread for the Bull's Head.

Bulls Head Meriden

There is clearly some artistic license in this engraving of the Bulls Head at Meriden. It was on the main road to London, hence the stage coach. But the pool for Meriden Hall has grown somewhat !
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
www.midlandspubs.co.uk said:
A most enjoyable read and an excellent journey/quest. There were many highlights but perhaps your most fortuitous was the 'final' visit to the Inn at Mona. Tremendous stuff.
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I'm so glad everyone enjoyed it and hope the story of my journey adds to the breadth of information held by Birmingham History forum.

My next cycling adventure is to understand, cycle along and tell the story of the 5 sea ports that link Wales with Holyhead - needless to say my crossing of the Irish sea will be by ferry !

With thanks and best wishes,
Joe
 
Members following this thread may be interested to know that harlechjoe has completed the journey which passed through Birmingham by telling the story of the final stretch to Holyhead, a road much used for the carriage of post, goods and politicians/officials on their way to Dublin in the days of a united Ireland.

It is called "Sound of Hurry" and is the final story in the series. The link remains as posted already: www.harlechjoe.wordpress.com

Chris
 
harlechjoe said:
I'm so glad everyone enjoyed it and hope the story of my journey adds to the breadth of information held by Birmingham History forum.

My next cycling adventure is to understand, cycle along and tell the story of the 5 sea ports that link Wales with Holyhead - needless to say my crossing of the Irish sea will be by ferry !

With thanks and best wishes,
Joe
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I completed my cycling journey that tells the story of the 5 sea ports that link Ireland with Wales that includes Holyhead and the setting off point / destination of parliamentary mail ( and Parliamentarians ) that my previous adventures follwed through Birmingham as they travelled between London / Westminster and Ireland/ Dublin Castle during the 'Union Years' . Called the Celtic Cycling Circle it is posted on www.harlechjoe.wordpress.com. I followed the East Coast of Ireland and witnessed sunrise, then the West Coast of Wales to savour Sunset. My wife says the story is an excellent remedy for insomnia.
 
Yesterdays media has revealed 'Historic England' recently added a stagecoach carriage wash in Hertfordshire to the National Heritage List. The purpose of a carriage wash was to clean debris from stagecoach wheels and remove dust/dirt off the identification plate; clean wheels turned with greater ease and soaking the wheels in water swelled them to prevent the wooden shrinking from the metal rims. Revealing the identification plates ensured any law breaking coach could be identified. I wondered if members know the location of a carriage wash within the centre Birmingham ?
 
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