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Photograph the preparation and demonstration of horses and period carriages dating back to the 1890s, 28th June 2017

About this event

Horse-drawn vehicles have been with us for centuries. They became increasingly more refined and elegant in design as the years went by. The advent of the motor car largely saw these vehicles superseded (along with many other forms of transport) but fortunately a number of them have survived into preservation for us to admire and photograph today.

The Redhouse Stables near Matlock has one of the best collections of horse-drawn vehicles in the United Kingdom. Carriages from the Museum's collection have appeared in film adaptations of novels such as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. The Museum was founded in 1946 by William Smith and has therefore been in existence for some seventy years. It sets very high stall by the authenticity of its vehicles, provides a working window on the world of horse-drawn transportation and is another brand new venue for TimeLine Events.

Our selected carriages will be brought out of the Museum and we will be able to photograph both them and the horse(s) being prepared. We will be able to pose horse and carriages, and take them out locally to set up authentic scenes. We will use at least two carriages, perhaps three, depending on time and weather conditions. We hope to have appropriately dressed passengers to ride and to appear in scenes. Together, this should give us a day packed with unusual photo opportunities. 

Amongst the vehicles scheduled to appear is a horse-drawn bread van formerly owned by local businessman Arthur Cowley. As a boy, Arthur, who passed away in 2003, would ride on the bread van with his father and grandfather helping to deliver to local homes. In the 1950s, Arthur took over the business himself and continued to run it until his retirement in the late 1980s. The bread van made its last delivery in 1968 pulled by Taffy the horse. After spending many years in storage, Arthur resurrected the bread van and restored it to its former glory to appear at shows across the country; it is now on loan to the Museum. Along with the van have been preserved the original change bag still containing the monies taken on its last round 49 years ago and the delivery book going back to the first entry back in 1894.

We have a choice of other carriages which we can use including a Landau (which was pulled by two horses) and a Brougham. The Brougham carriage was first designed by Henry Peter Brougham, a former Lord Chancellor who steered the 1832 Reform Bill through parliament. He wanted to design a four-wheel carriage capable of being pulled by one horse without the need for a formal coachman and groom. These became extremely popular both in the United Kingdom and the USA - a motorised version was made and both Ford and General Motors used the name for their early motor cars. The final choice of additional vehicles will be made much nearer the time, but you will not be disappointed!

We are hoping for a relaxed and enjoyable day with a difference with some excellent and different photographic opportunities thrown in for good measure, and hope that a number of you will join us for one of our more unusual events.

Event cost £52.00 per person.

Event requirements