Dog cart

This cart is a two-wheeled, two seat cart designed to be pulled by one horse.

The cart has a box shaped body with two front facing seats, one of which is used by the driver, with space behind the seats for storage, which could be accessed by a lowerable back door. The brake bars at the front of the cart are secured by a squared bracket. The front of the seats is protected from upturned stones and mud by a black leather dash. The sides of the carriage are also protected by mud catchers above each wheel.

The original upholstery and padding for the seats have been removed.

This cart’s black paintwork and red lining is indicative of the official livery of the British Royal Family.

Dog carts first appeared in 1817 and likely developed from gigs (small two-wheel, one or two seat carts typically pulled by single horses). They were originally used for carrying dogs, which would have been kept in ventilated boxes under the seats. However, they quickly became used for goods transport and commercial travel. Two-wheeled dog carts were the most common, but their four-wheeled counterparts became more popular from the mid-19th Century onwards.

This particular vehicle is likely a variant of the Whitechapel cart, which was designed to be used by gentlemen, and is characterized by its box-shaped body and square bracket design.