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Coaching Inns in the 19th century

H

harlechjoe

knowlegable brummie
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
 
I gather the stagecoach left from the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury. Its main journey presumably would be along Watling Street - the A5.

The Coaches: 'Travellers in Eighteenth-Century England'

The Coaches, 2nd chapter of 'Travellers in Eighteenth-Century England'
www.ourcivilisation.com
There were probably many coaching inns in Birmingham, most are mentioned in one of the many thread here.
 
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From the 1841 Pigot's Birmingham directory:
To SHREWSBURY, the Holyhead Royal
Mail, from the Swan, the Castle and
the Nelson Offices, every morning at
half-past two—-the Greybound at halfpast
eight—the Wonder from 'the Hen
and Chickens. everv' afternoon at
half-past two—and the Stag (Sunday
excepted) at five; all go through Wolverhampton,
Shiffnall, and Wellington.
 
Here’s a link about the Hen & Chickens. The building is no longer there. Viv.

Hen And Chickens Hotel New Street

The Hen and Chickens (at least prior to 1741 until 1894) The Making Of Birmingham (Robert Dent, 1894) provides a nice engraving of the Hen and Chickens, by a Samuel Lines from 1833, but only gives a brief mention. A few lines from the book The Taverns of Old Birmingham by E Edwards written in...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
Thank you for thinking of me !
I will have to use google street map to look in detail at the route and seek safer alternatives and times of cycling to avoid the danger of busy roads that don't segregate me from traffic.
 
Certainly, with greatest of pleasure - its the least I can do.
The journey will begin at the end of this month with a 'taster-ride' from The Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury visiting the coach staging posts to Wolverhampton. I will then post a link to my cycling blog for that part of journey for forum members to read, then in June I will proceed from Wolverhampton to London.
I am so grateful for all the helpful comments posted by the forum. These will avoid my ignorance resulting in errors !
 
Nice blog. You will have to let me know your June dates - if I am around I could ride a few kilometres with you. This winter I have been preparing a touring bike for the summer. I found it unloved on e-bay and restored it. Actually, the only bit I didn't replace was the frame! It is now almost completely titanium.

van-nicholas-ti.jpg
 
Wow, I love TI frames, they are ideal for touring and don't scratch.
It would be wonderful to have a cycling buddy for a few Kms.
My intention is to be in Birmingham City Centre late morning on Monday June 29th.
Perhaps we can keep in touch outside the forum to finalise arrangements.
My email address is [email protected]
 
So, Snow Hill/London: £100 inside, £50 outside; Birmingham/Bristol: £25 outside; Birmingham/Liverpool: £90 inside; Birmingham/Shrewsbury: £18 outside. Luggage around 30p per lb.

Chris
 
Due to the serious nature of Coronavirus I have decided to postpone my bicycle ride along the route of The Wonder until the autumn. Once the ride has been completed I will post a link to my cycling blog with the story of this adventure. I hope you all stay healthy and happy in the months ahead - Joe
 
Radiorails said:
I gather the stagecoach left from the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury. Its main journey presumably would be along Watling Street - the A5.

The Coaches: 'Travellers in Eighteenth-Century England'

The Coaches, 2nd chapter of 'Travellers in Eighteenth-Century England'
www.ourcivilisation.com
There were probably many coaching inns in Birmingham, most are mentioned in one of the many thread here.
Click to expand...
RR, that is a really great article! So much interesting history about the mail service!
 
Sensible move in the current climate Harlechjoe. Meanwhile if we can be of any more help, you know where we are. Viv.
 
This thread is part of the Birmingham History section and concerns a proposal to follow a historic route, but If you wish to discuss bicycles generally, could you please do so in the general discussion section .
 
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
 
hi harlechjoe sounds fascinating but when i click on your link nothing comes up...could be a problem my end but not sure

lyn
 
joe its still saying my connection is not private...as said i wonder if its a problem my end....

lyn
 
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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