Horse-drawn Brooke Bond van with set of harness

Horse-drawn Brooke Bond van with set of harness, typical of the vans used from 1900-1950.

This was the most common style of van for transporting retail goods to stores during the late Victorian and Edwardian period. Large firms such as A. C. Lloyd provided vehicles with interchangeable parts, which meant broken vans could be quickly replaced one the road while waiting for repairs. Horses were also rotated on shift patterns to allow them to rest, though drivers often worked shifts of at least 12 hours.

This particular van was used to deliver Brooke Bond's tea, which was one of the most popular tea brands of the time, and is now most well-known for creating PG tips.