Carriages and charabancs

From Jerripedia

An excursion car prepares to leave from the Weighbridge

The charabanc - literally translated as carriage with benches, and its pronunciation gradually Anglicised from 'car-a-baw' to 'sharabang' - was the forerunner of today's tourist coach, and was itself the replacement as public transport for smaller horse-drawn carriages

Early horse-drawn charabancs could carry a significant number of passengers, although the complement of two carriages probably posed for this photograph. Passengers were always properly dressed in suits for the men, long dresses for the ladies, and hats for everyone

Excursions

In the 19th century holidaymakers in Jersey were taken on excursions in horse-drawn carriages and enclosed coaches, and as these coaches got larger, the initial layout of bench seats facing forwards and backwards switched to a continuous bench around the outside of the carriage. Then even longer vehicles had three or more rows of bench seats and the charabanc was born.

Works outings

The name is by no means unique to the Islands, because charabancs were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries for works outings in England, but it was as a means of carrying a number of passengers to the popular tourist locations in the holiday islands that they were in their element. They were often also known as excursion cars.

The arrival of the motor car brought motorised charabancs, with special open bodies commissioned from coachbuilders. In some parts of the world exceptionally long versions were constructed, but these were not suitable for the islands' narrow roads.

Enclosed bodywork

Gradually charabancs with enclosed bodywork were produced and the modern bus and motor coach were born.

We have now divided this gallery into three sections

Horse-drawn carriages
Horse-drawn charabancs, including stage coaches and early omnibuses
Motorised vehicles

Where dates for the photographs are known we have sorted these images in chronological order. It will be seen that motorised charabancs were very slow to take over from horse-drawn vehicles, which were still in use up to the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, and for a while afterwards.

A large group on an outing to Plemont in 1868, photographed by Godfray ...
... and the back of the photograph, showing that this was a Royal Paragon excursion
Two pictures of charabanc outings in about 1890, from the Jersey Archive collection. It was suggested that these might be the same outing, and it certainly appears to be the same vehicle in both pictures.
But close examination, although possibly identifying some individuals who appear in both, suggests that the pictures were taken at different times. The prominent man in white trousers is bearded in one picture and not in the other and his outfit differs
And two pictures of charabanc outings some 30-plus years later ...
... these are Paragon charabancs and the renowned guide Baker appears in both pictures

Pictures of charabanc outings are widely available as postcards, because they were frequently taken by photographers for sale to visitors the following day, printed as postcards to send home. It was also common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for employers to organise outings for their staff, with transport varying between carriages, coaches and charabancs according to the size of the enterprise. We have attempted to arrange this gallery, as far as possible, into chronological order. Later images will be found in our Coaches gallery and you should also visit our Picture gallery of buses for further pictures of public transport vehicles - Click on image to see larger picture

Horse-drawn carriages

One of the passengers on the left of the group posing during a charabanc outing has acquired two very tall Jersey cabbage sticks

A carriage in St Brelade's Bay in 1930
Pony and trap - the simplest horsedrawn carriage
Charabancs on an outing for a large party gather at Plemont
A family carriage photographed by Baudoux in the 1870s
George Little driving a carriage on an excursion to the north coast
A picnic outing in 1875
An excursion to Rozel in 1881
A carriage ride for two in 1901
A carriage photographed by Albert Smith in 1905
A family outing in 1910
St James Street, 1911
In Waterworks Valley in 1914
A picture of a 1914 carriage, inscribed Duval
A Victorian carriage at Greve de Lecq
A horse and trap
A pony and trap outside Heathfield, St Saviour
Baker, the famous excursion car guide, in his own smaller carriage
Horse and trap
This vehicle photographed by Ernest Baudoux in the 1870s is described as a caleche, being used for a family outing
A family outing in 1910
A carriage, probably a taxi, is inspected in the Parade
A family carriage outing in about 1920
A photograph taken in St James Place

This early 20th century photograph shows a well-to-do family out for a drive, probably in their own carriage, driven by their own chauffeur. On a sunny day in a quiet country lane the opportunity was presented to stop and take a photograph. Perhaps there had been another gentlemen in the carriage with the two ladies, and it was he who took the picture. We suspect that the photograph dates from around 1905, perhaps a little later

Horse and trap
Horse and van
A horse-drawn trap
Before the charabanc, a simple horse and cart was used for outings
Picture by Albert Smith
A taxi awaits at the Weighbridge
A smart Edwardian carriage for smart gentlemen
A carriage outing to La Hougue Bie
Luxury transport for three ladies and a gentleman
A small carriage with a group of smart gentlemen. Was the driver actually the individual standing at the back of the carriage?
This carriage was for hire from Mr de l'Isle
The Lapworth family
An outing by horse and cart
Carriages
A carriage in St Helier town

Horse-drawn charabancs

This picture of a horse-drawn charabanc was taken in 1918, nearly 20 years after the first motor car arrived in an island which was very slow to adapt to the major 19th century inventions, including electric light, the telephone and motorised road transport

A typical picture by Albert Smith of a charabanc outing - he must have taken thousands
Gregory's Royal Blue in 1868
A photograph of a Paragon excursion in 1868
1869
1876
A Paragon excursion in the 1870s
A charabanc excursion in 1880, photographed by Ernest Baudoux
A charabanc in 1880, probably, but not certainly, in Jersey
1880 carriage outing
A coach outside Pooley's, Greve de Lecq in the 1880s
1880
1882
A Baudoux picture from 1887
A charabanc in 1890
A coach outside Pooley's at Greve de Lecq in 1890

A colourised version of a photograph by J R G Stroud, who took many pictures of charabanc outings in the 19th century

An 1890 outing
A charabanc in 1892
Guests at a wedding photographed by Albert Smith in 1892
This coach was photographed by Albert Smith in the 1890s
A charabanc photographed by Smith in the 1890s
Livermore coach in the 1890s
An outing in the 1890s
A photograph by Philip Godfray of a very ornate Victorian charabanc in the 1890s
Paragon excursion in the 19th century
1893
1892
Britannia Excursions
A newly married couple on a charabanc outing in 1896
A Paragon excursion. These popular outings in the late 19th century were regularly photographed by Philip Godfray

One of our earliest photographs of a carriage excursion - a Paragon outing in 1868

1894
1896
Tantivy coach in 1897
1900
1900
A charabanc in September 1902, the image inscribed Piquer
An excursion at Greve de Lecq in 1902
Carriages at the Harbour in 1903
A 1903 outing supervised by guide Baker
Carriages in 1903
A 1905 excursion
1905
A 1909 charabanc
A charabanc from the 1910s
1911 Albert Smith photograph
A charabanc at Le Colombier in 1911
A chapel outing by charabanc in 1912
A Bethel Chapel outing in 1912
An outing in 1912
1913
A photograph by Percival Dunham of a 1913 outing
A charabanc in 1913
Christmas Eve 1913 - horse-drawn charabanc still in service
A 1913 outing

A very smartly dressed Edwardian group. Tour guide Harry Baker can be seen standing at the front on the right

A charabanc outing, probably in the late 19th century
A charabanc about to depart from Gorey
A Down's coach outside the Stopford Hotel
The stagecoach to town
Excursion car
A stagecoach on the road to Rozel
Britannia Excursion
An early photograph of a charabanc by Albert Smith
A Paragon charabanc photographed by Albert Smith leaving the Halkett Place depot which was in the grounds of the Paragon Hotel
H J Berry charabanc
Charabanc
A ladies' outing
A coach photographed by Albert Smith
An outing led by the popular guide Baker

A large group of carriages about to depart on an outing from the Esplanade

H J Berry charabanc
Charabanc passengers with Jersey cabbage sticks
A horse-drawn charabanc in the 19th century
A charabanc waits at Gorey
Gorey
An outing for a group of children
A ladies' outing
The Weighbridge, a main starting point for charabanc outings
A large group pauses for a photograph during an outing
Carriages at the Town Hall
A very smartly dressed group on an outing
An Albert Smith photograph
A Lion excursion car photographed by Albert Smith
An Albert Smith photograph
Charabancs outside Hallewell's Hotel on the Esplanade
Charabanc 'The Queen'
A carriage outing
An Albert Smith photograph
A picture by Albert Smith
A covered charabanc, also photographed by Smith

Harry the guide (third from right at front) has lent his bag and sash to the lady standing next to him

Carriages for a church outing
A horse-drawn charabanc in St Helier
A grand outing for 32 people
Carriages
Carriages
Touzel excursion car
Tantivy charabanc
And another Tantivy outing
A well-dressed group on an outing
An Edwardian era charabanc outing
The Don excursion car
Don excursion car
A very smart group of passengers
Tourists on a charabanc with Jersey cabbage sticks
A charabanc outing
A charabanc outing for a very smartly dressed group - photograph by D E Smith, of Beaumont
Another photograph by Albert Smith
At Gorey
Carriages collect arriving passengers on the Victoria Pier
Roy, Paragon travel guide in the 1890s
Gregory Royal Blue Excursion postcard
Gregory Royal Blue Excursion card reverse
A Down's excursion advert
Paragon excursion photographs advert
1858
1860
1860
The back of a photograph
The back of a Paragon photograph
Mc Farling charabanc in 1928
Mc Farling charabanc in 1915
Mc Farling charabanc in 1915

Motorised charabancs

A Gordon Bennett Paragon Cars charabanc in 1921. The vehicle was undoubtedly several years old at the time

A 1924 outing
1920
1928
Mr Liron's charabanc
Harry the guide leads another outing
Early Blue Coach tour
A men's outing complete with horn gramophone
Paragon were one of the main operators of charabancs and motorised coaches
1910s
A charabanc outing photographed by Albert Smith
How many horsepower is this new charabanc?
A charabanc outing
Jerripedia editor Mike Bisson's grand aunt and grandmother are closest to the camera in the second row from the back
A Gloucester Hotel guests' outing in 1914
Gordon Bennett's Paragon excursion
A picture by Albert Smith
A Pitchers Tantivy charabanc
An outing in 1920
Tantivy charabanc
A charabanc outing for a picnic
A Blue Coach Tours charabanc
Blue Coach Tours
A charabanc carrying passengers to the August Bank Holiday race meeting at Don Bridge
A charabanc outing to Portelet
Blue Coach Tours charabanc
In Rouge Bouillon in 1929
1924
Scarlett Coaches outing
Scarlett Coaches
A line of tourist buses in the 1920s

The Mascot fleet in 1938 or 1939. The Germans shipped the vehicles to France before June 1944

Musical accompaniment on the ukelele
1921
A charabanc at Bouley Bay in 1922
A charabanc in 1922
One of the earliest charabanc outings from the Merton Hotel in May 1922
A 1923 charabanc
A 1924 excursion
1924
A motorised charabanc in 1925
A stop at Mont Orgueil
A Methodist outing in 1926
A 1926 outing in a Jersey charabanc
A charabanc outing in 1926
A 1928 picture
Mascot charabancs on Victoria Avenue in 1928 or 1929
1929
1929
1932
Visiting Swedish sailors on a charabanc outing in 1934
Possibly in 1938
Blue Coach Tours in 1922
1918, and guide Baker is still active. It's hard to tell whether this is a horse-drawn chara, or a conversion to motorised power
1929
Tally Ho Tours, 1915
1930
1927
A Jersey party photographed by an Albert Smith staff photographer in St Malo in 1929
A long wheelbase chara
Charabanc at Augres
Charabancs at the Weighbridge
1930
1920
1923
A fancy dress outing
A charabanc on Victoria Avenue in 1929 - picture courtesy of Temps Passe