You know spring is in the air when you see a sociable touring through the streets. The open-air version of the Randolph carriage is a new option for touring our town in style.
The Randolph carriage and the Wythe chariot were recently restored: completely torn down and rebuilt, with new springs, metalwork, and upholstery.
As part of the refurbishment, the Randolph carriage had the new sociable body built as a warm weather alternative to the enclosed carriage (pictured above), which will return in fall. But Paul Bennett, Director of Coach and Livestock, doesn’t expect to be putting it back on until at least October.
On busy days, expect to find a bustling 18th-century cityscape, with eight carriages making their way carrying 21st-century gentry (that’s all Americans now—that’s why we got rid of the monarchy).
Packing up the worn carriages last June was one of Richard Nicoll’s final duties as the former head of Coach and Livestock. The worn coaches were carefully loaded into a 40-foot shipping container. After the doors were sealed, Jack Alvarez from Driving Essentials in New Holland, Pa. oversaw the long journey to Glinkowski Carriages of Gostyń, Poland.
That’s where Glinkowski Carriages, a leading carriage manufacturer and exporter, is located. The family business was established in 1956 and began exporting to the West in the 1980s. They use modern computerized manufacturing techniques to produce old-fashioned experiences.
Glinkowski manufactures more than a thousand carriages a year of all types, even 30-passenger horse-drawn trams used in Holland. They also archive the plans for every carriage they produce, ensuring that replacement parts can be easily manufactured.
Once the work was finished, the carriages were shoehorned back into the shipping container for the return trip. Space was tight because the container held a couple of newly manufactured pieces, including the sociable body. The restored carriages arrived back in Williamsburg on Feb. 2.
The newly refurbished carriages (including the Wythe chariot shown below) will be showcased at the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, Va. in May. Funding was provided by a number of generous supporters.
A brand new carriage, the Thomas Nelson phaeton, is also about to debut. Master coachmaker Harley N. Chandler of Petersburg, Kentucky supervised its construction based on an example in the collections of the Long Island Museum of Art, History, and Carriages in Stony Brook, N.Y. The Nelson phaeton was made possible by a gift from Maureen M. and James W. Gorman of Cumberland Foreside, Maine.
Edward Merkley did most of the assembly on the phaeton, fitting the metalwork and reattaching the wheels. It was upholstered locally by Michael Waggener. Our paint shop just took care of the final stage of production: affixing its monograms (below).
Two new carriage horses, Duke and Dan, recently arrived from Bedford, Va. When they arrived, Paul had to evaluate them to ensure that they were a good fit in Williamsburg, able to get along and safely navigate the streets. He was pleased with the results. They join more than 20 other horses in the stables.
Most of Colonial Williamsburg’s coach drivers are assigned responsibility for a pair of horses. The drivers get to know their habits and quirks, and can quickly tell if they’re not feeling right. But their coach assignments are made on a daily basis. Everyone has familiarity with all the different vehicles.
15- and 30-minute rides are available. Just make a reservation in the morning (get there early) at the Lumber House ticket office on Duke of Gloucester St. at the South end of Palace Green. Most coaches are used for the shorter rides.
The stage wagon, which can accommodate up to nine passengers, offers 30-minute rides.
The refurbished Wythe and the brand new Nelson coach are used for 30-minute rides for two. These are “for people who want to spend time together,” says Paul.
You can also inquire about hiring a coach for a private tour. VIPs and couples getting engaged or married like that option.
“You won’t find a carriage ride like this anywhere else in the country,” says Paul.
And what’s that other item on the truck? Is that… a fire engine? Stay tuned….
If I can put in a plug, the “Bits and Bridles” tour is a super behind the scenes look at the horses and carriages that transport happy passengers through the Revolutionary City! I hope some details of the carriage restoration are presented on the tour!
My family went on this tour in past years as part of our Annual Pass membership, but I see that the Bits and Bridles tour now requires a $5 admission. For those of us who have been on this tour a few years ago, will we experience some new elements? THANK YOU!