GROWTH OF COACHING 23 



On May 1st. 1701. the first Brighton Mail coach 

 was established. It was a two-horse affair, running 

 by Lewes and East Grinstead, and taking twelve hours 

 to perform the journey. It was not well supported 

 by the public, and as the Post Office would not pay 

 the contractors a higher mileage, it was at some 

 uncertain period withdrawn. 



About 1796 coach offices were opened in Brighton 

 for the sole despatch of coaching business, the time 

 having passed away for the old custom of starting 

 from inns. Now, too. were different tales to tell of 

 these roads, after the Pavilion had been set in course 

 of building. Rovaltv and the Court could not endure 

 to travel upon such evil tracks as had hitherto been 

 the lot of travellers to Brighthelmstone. Presently, 

 instead of a dearth of roads and a plethora of ruts, 

 there became a choice of good highways and a plenty 

 of travellers upon them. 



Numerous coaches ran to meet the demands of the 

 travelling public, and these continually increased in 

 number and improved in speed. About this time 

 first appear the firms of Henwood, Crossweller, 

 Cuddington. Poeknev & Harding, whose office was at 

 No. 44. East Street ; and Boulton, Tilt, Hicks, Baul- 

 comb & Co.. at No. 1, North Street. The most 

 remarkable thing, to my mind, about those companies 

 is their long-winded names. In addition to the old 

 service, there ran a " night post-coach " on alternate 

 nights, starting at 10 p.m. in the season. One then 

 went to or from London generally in " about " eleven 

 hours, if all went well. If you could afford only a ride 

 in the stage-waggon, why then you were carried the 

 distance bv the accelerated (!) waggons of this line in 

 two davs and one night. 



