350 CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY 



1739. According to Pennant, gentlemen who were active 



horsemen still rode, instead of going by coach. 



1742. London to Oxford in 2 days. 



„ „ „ Birmingham, by Oxford, in 3 days. 



175 1. „ „ Dover in 1 4 days. 



1753. Outsides carried on Shrewsbury Stage. 



1754. London and Manchester Flying Coach in 4| days. 



„ Springs to coaches first mentioned : the Edinburgh 



Stage. 

 „ London and Edinburgh in 10 days. 

 1758. London and Liverpool Flying Machine in 3 davs. 

 1760. ,, ,, Leeds Flying Coach advertised in 3 days : 



took 4. 

 1763. London and Edinburgh only once a month, and in 



14 days. 

 1776. First duty on stage-coaches imposed. 

 1780. Stage-coaches become faster than postboys. 

 1782. Pennant describes contemporary travelling by light 



post-coaches as " rapid journeys in easy chaises, 



fit for the conveyance of the soft inhabitants of 



Sybaris." 

 1784. Mail-coach system established. 



1800 (about). Fore and hind boots, framed to body of 

 coach, become general. 

 ,, Coaches in general carry outside ]^)assengers. 



1805. Springs under driving-box introduced. 

 1 8 19. "Patent Safety" coaches come into frequent use, to 



reassure travelling public, alarmed by frequent 



accidents. 

 1 824. Rise of the fast day-coaches : the Golden Age of 



coachiuir. 

 „ Stockton and Darlington Kailway opened : first 



beginnings of the railway era. 

 1830. Liver2)ool and Manchester Kailway opened: coaching 



first seriously tlireatened. 

 1838. London and Ijinuingliain Hailway opened: fir.st 



great blow to coaching; coaches taken otf Holy- 

 head Koad as far as Binuinirhani. 



