|
Getting Around London in the Late 19th Century
by
Elizabeth Stegenga
Copyright 2003-2006
No reprint without Author's permission
By 1875, London’s population exceeded four million. That is twice what it was ten years earlier, and four times as many people as there were during the Regency era. And with this many people streaming through the streets, there were bound to be mishaps. It was estimated that passing vehicles killed five thousand pedestrians each year. Walking, while the cheapest form of transportation, was obviously not the safest. So, how did a Londoner get around this crowded metropolis if he chose not to risk a walk? He had many options, depending on how quickly he wanted to arrive as his destination, and how much money he was willing to spend.
Metropolitan and District Railways: These railways ran mostly underground by means of tunnels and partly high-cut walls. The lines formed a belt around the inner circle of London , with various branch lines diverged to outlying suburbs. The trains ran about every five minutes, and were “tolerably” well-lit. The Met Railway was described as a continuous station running underneath the streets of London. No sooner had a person left from one point that she arrived at the next. A run of three minutes, such as the trip from King’s Cross to Gower Street., was considered a long one. The stations were almost always crowded, with officials hurrying passengers on and off the carriages. The trains stopped for only thirty seconds before they were off again. Tunnels were lit by gas, and they trains traveled at around twenty-five miles per hour. Fares are moderate, around one shilling for any distance one way, or a passenger could buy a round trip ticket for a fare and a half. The booking office was found at ground level near the top of the stairs, and each ticket was marked with a large O or I (for outer or inner line of rails) with platforms marked with corresponding letters and places of destination. Departures and arrivals were also listed on telegraph boards at every station. Tramways: By the later 1880’s, over 130 miles of tramways, with over 100 cars, were in operation in the outlying districts of London. They ran from all parts of the city, and were pulled by four team horses. Fares were between 1 – 4d. Omnibus: First started in 1829, they quickly grew in popularity. These traversed the leading thoroughfares, and could be obtained at any great central part of London, such as all the railroad stations, the Bank of England, Charing Cross, Regent Circus and Piccadilly just to name a few. The destination of each vehicle (known to locals as the ‘bus) and the names of the principal streets it passed, were painted on the outside, and each omnibus was painted a different color, according to where it was going. They always kept to the left while driving on the street, so an intending passenger had to walk on that side to hail one. Since they had no conductor, each passenger placed their fare in a box, anywhere from threepence to sixpence, according to the distance. Cabs: For the traveler in a hurry and whose route did not coincide with an omnibus, a cab was a good option. These could be found at various cab-stands, or a person could hail one passing on the street, such as we do today. “Four wheelers’, which were small and uncomfortable, could hold up to four passengers, with a fifth accommodated beside the driver. Two-wheeled cabs were called Hansoms (named for their inventor), held room for only two passengers and drove at a much quicker rate. Persons without luggage preferred the Hansom. The driver’s seat on a Hansom was at the back, so that he drove over the heads of the passengers inside, and orders were communicated to him through a small trap-door in the roof. Fares were reckoned by distance, unless a person wanted to hire the cab by time. The charge for a Hansom drive under two miles was one shilling, over two miles, sixpence for each extra mile. If by time, for one hour or less, two shillings sixpence, for every extra fifteen minutes, another eight pence. A four wheeler was charged much the same, though it held an added charge for over two persons, and reduced charge for extra time hire from eight pence to sixpence and a one hour charge of only two shillings. Cabs were notorious for overcharging (somewhat like today), and a passenger had better know the distance and agree on a charge before the journey commenced. Flys: A vehicle of superior form to the cab, there were freely admitted to the parks. Flys had to be specially ordered from a livery stable keeper, and the charges were considerably higher. They were the recommended hired vehicle for traveling into the country. Coaches: During the summer months, well-appointed four-horses stagecoaches ran from London to various popular places during the hours of 10 AM to 11:45 AM for purposes of sightseeing. Costs were much higher than an omnibus, anywhere from six shilling to eleven shillings for a one-way trip. The most popular routes were booked days in advance. No matter the choice, if a person wanted to get from one end of London to another, there was an easy and fairly cheap way of getting there. All without meeting the wrong end of coal wagon. Sources:
Marsh’s American Guide to London, 4th Edition, 1875
Baedeker’s Guide to London and its Environs, 1888. |
