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Mail coach on the High Street at Stony Stratford
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Mail coach on the High Street at Stony Stratford
A packed vintage four-horse mail coach on the High Street at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire. Due to the juxtaposition of two hotels in the centre of town, The Cock and The Bull (pictured), (both originally coaching inns on the main London to Chester and North Wales turnpike), it is claimed locally that the common phrase " a cock and bull story" originated here.
1907
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Media ID 20025704
© Grenville Collins Postcard Collection / Tom Gillmor / Mary Evans
Buckinghamshire Bull Candid Coach Coaching Coachman Coachmen Cock Expression Four Horse Inns Lampost Mail Packed Phrase Stagecoach Stony Stratford Turnpike Whip 1907
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative image from the past, a packed vintage four-horse mail coach makes its way through the bustling High Street of Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire. The year is 1907, and the scene is reminiscent of a bygone era when travel was an adventure, and the mail coach was the primary means of transportation for both people and post. The quaint market town of Stony Stratford, with its rich history, is depicted in all its charm. The cobblestone High Street is lined with shops and inns, two of which, The Cock and The Bull, can be seen in the centre of the photograph. These historic coaching inns, originally built to accommodate weary travelers and their horses, are a testament to the town's past as a major stop on the main London to Chester and North Wales turnpike. The juxtaposition of these two inns has given rise to a popular local legend. It is claimed that the common phrase "a cock and bull story" originated here, as the inns were often the source of tall tales and exaggerated stories told by weary travelers seeking warmth and companionship. The mail coach, with its team of four horses and coachman at the reins, adds to the scene's authenticity. The coachman, dressed in his traditional attire, holds a whip in one hand and a lantern in the other, ensuring the journey continues smoothly despite the dim light. The lamposts along the High Street cast an amber glow over the scene, adding to the sense of nostalgia and wonder. This photograph, taken from the Grenville Collins Postcard Collection by Tom Gillmor and available through Mary Evans Prints Online, offers a glimpse into the past, transporting us back to a time when travel was an adventure, and the mail coach was the lifeline that connected people and communities.
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