The Mossman Carriage collection is the largest and most significant vehicle collection of its kind in the country, including originals from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Stockwood Park
London Road
Luton
LU1 4LX
Tel: 01582 54 86 00
Email: museum.gallery@lutonculture.com
Stockwood Discovery Centre has now reopened to the public with new facilities for you to enjoy. The Centre brings together a host of attractions, including beautiful historic walled gardens, fascinating heritage displays, interactive environmental galleries and opportunities for both play and relaxation.
The Mossman collection of horse drawn vehicles was given to Luton Museum Service in 1991. It illustrates the development of horse-drawn road transportation in Britain from Roman times up until the 1930.
It illustrates the life of tradesmen and ordinary people as well as the lives of the aristocracy. It's existence is owed to the enthusiastic collecting of a local man called George Mossman who was born in Caddington, Bedfordshire, in 1906.
Shortly after the First World War George Mossman left school to start work for Panter’s butchers on Park Street, Luton, as a butcher’s delivery van driver. He delivered meat to the people of Luton and surrounding villages. This began his life long interest in horse-drawn transport.
After running several successful businesses and a working farm he acquired a leasing company providing horse drawn carriages for special events such as weddings, carnivals and public occasions. George drove his carriages in the London’s Lord Mayors Show for 25 years and even had carriages and drivers as part of the present Queen’s Coronation procession
The collection consists of 54 registered vehicles as well as carriages from the Museums own collection, a total of more than 63 vehicles. The collection contain original carriages from the 18th to the 20th centuries and also many replicas made for his work with Pinewood and Elstree Studios towards the later half of the 20th century.
Some of the carriages of particular significance are the 18th century Landau and the early 19th century Barouche. These are fine examples of the type and in excellent condition. Also the 1890’s Char-a-bang which highlights the early days of public transportation.
The collection covers trade and working vehicles to state coaches and life on the grand estates. It is hard to imagine life before the invention of the petrol driven vehicle but this collection helps us to understand how important horse drawn transport was. Until the railways were introduced this was the only means of transportation apart from walking. Carriages were vital for the economy of local communities, for travel, as working tools for trade and to open up the Country for people from its farthest corners.
Not only is the collection significant to the people of Bedfordshire as it documents the life’s work and passions of a local man, but it is of National and some would say International significance as it is by far the largest collection of horse drawn vehicles in Britain today by a single donor.
