PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The "Directory of Stage Coach Services 1836", compiled by Mr Alan Bates and published in 1969 by Messrs David & Charles Ltd, gives the following stage coach services in connection with Plymouth. Additional information relating to June 1837 has been added. London to Falmouth Royal Mail Coach operated by Messrs W Chaplin & Company: this was the most prestigious service of all. The coach left Falmouth at 1.45am and after travelling through Cornwall via Truro, St Austell, and Liskeard, it crossed the river Tamar and headed for Devonport. It was due to depart at 9.30am and leave Plymouth just nine minutes later. It then passed through Ashburton, Exeter, Honiton, Ilminster and Amesbury that day. It was due to depart from Andover at 12.19am the following morning and arrive at the General Post Office at 6.50am. The coach terminated at the Swan with Two Necks at 7.05am. The coach from London left the Swan with Two Necks at 7.30pm and the GPO at 8pm, along with all the other Mail coaches. The following morning at 1.41am it was due to leave Whitchurch and at 12.34pm it was due to depart from Exeter. The Coach was due to leave Plymouth at 5.05pm and Devonport at 5.14pm to enable it to arrive at Falmouth at 1.05am the following morning. Thus the journey from London to Plymouth took over eleven hours. On Sundays the Mail coaches 30 minutes earlier than the time shown above. In June 1837 two services were advertised as running to London by different routes. The Defiance left Mr William Rowe's King's Arms Hotel, Bretonside, Plymouth, every day at 10.45am and ran via Ashburton, Exeter, Honiton, Ilminster, Ilchester, Amersham, Andover and Basingstoke. It was due to arrive at Nelson's Bull Inn, Aldgate, London, at 11am the following morning. The Royal Mail left the King's Arms Hotel every evening at 5.45pm and ran via Totnes, Honiton, Yeovil and Salisbury. It was due to arrive in London at 5pm the following evening. London and Bath to Devonport Royal Mail Coach operated by Messrs W Chaplin & Company: this Royal Mail coach left Devonport at 4.45am and called at Totnes (7.30am), Newton Abbot (8.25am), Chudleigh (9.02 am, and Exeter (10.15am) before going onwards via Taunton, Wells, Bath, Devizes, Marlborough (10.49pm) and Hounslow (5.26am the following day). It was due to arrive at the General Post Office in London at 6.36am and its terminus at the Swan with Two Necks Inn in Lad Lane, at 6.51am. The downward journey started from the Swan with Two Necks at 7.30pm. It was then one of the great multitude of Royal Mail coaches that left the General Post Office dead on 8pm for the journey West. Newbury was reached at 1.53am the following morning, Bath at 7am, Taunton at 12.35pm and Exeter at 3.57pm. It finally pulled in to Devonport at 10.05pm. On Sundays the Mail coaches ran 30 minutes earlier than the times shown above. In June 1837 two coaches were advertised as providing links to Bath and Bristol. A "light coach" left Mr William Rowe's King's Arms Hotel, Bretonside, Plymouth, at 10.45am every day calling at Taunton, Bridgewater and Wells. The Royal Mail left every evening at 5.45pm following the same route. Devonport to Launceston Royal Mail Coach operated by a Mr M Broad: the 9 seater stage coach did two return trips a week, outward on Tuesdays and Fridays, and returning from Launceston on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The licence was number 5633. The coach left Devonport at 5.24pm and Launceston at 5.30am. Plymouth to Barnstaple Stage Coach operated by Messrs W Rowe & Company: Rowe operated one coach, seating 4 inside and 8 outside, under licence 5660. Although quoted as doing one return journey Monday to Saturday it was more likely Plymouth to Barnstaple on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with the return trips on the Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It was, after all, a route of some 65 miles. In June 1837 this service, The Telegraph, left Mr William Rowe's King's Arms Hotel, Bretonside, Plymouth, at 8am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It ran via Tavistock, Okehampton, Hatherleigh, Torrington and Bideford. Plymouth to Devonport Stage Coach operated by Messrs W Radmore & Company: Radmore operated two coaches, under licences 5661 and 5662, on 24 return journeys, The stage coaches carried 12 people inside. In June 1837 two omnibuses named the Exquisite and Red Rover were advertised as running from Mr William Rowe's King's Arms Hotel, Bretonside, Plymouth, via Stonehouse to Devonport, every half-hour from 9am until 8.30pm. Plymouth to Kingsbridge Stage Coach operated by Mr R Foall and Messrs W Rowe & Company. Each of them operated a single journey each Monday to Saturday. Mr Foall's licence was number 5637 and his coach could carry four passengers inside and eleven outside. Rowe's vehicle was licence number 5663 and could carry four inside and eight outside. In June 1837 a coach named The Telegraph ran from Mr William Rowe's King's Arms Hotel, Bretonside, Plymouth, through Modbury and Aveton Gifford to Kingsbridge every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10am. Sources:
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