Mossman Collection facts for kids
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1548315.jpg) |
|
| Established | 1954 |
|---|---|
| Location | Stockwood Discovery Centre, London Road, Luton LU1 4LX England |
The Mossman Carriage Collection is a special museum in Stockwood Park, Luton, Bedfordshire. It holds a huge collection of horse-drawn vehicles. These are vehicles like carriages and carts that were pulled by horses.
This museum has the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in the whole United Kingdom. You can see original vehicles from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. It's a great place to learn about how people used to travel and transport things long ago.
Discovering Horse-Drawn Vehicles
The Mossman Collection was given to the Luton Museum Service in 1991. Today, it's part of the Stockwood Discovery Centre. Here, you can explore many different types of horse-drawn vehicles.
The collection shows how people in Britain used these vehicles. You can see examples from Roman times all the way up to the 1930s. There are vehicles used by everyday people and tradesmen. You can also find fancy luxury carriages and state coaches. These were used by important families and on large country estates.
This collection is very important to the people of Luton. It shows the amazing work of a local man, George Mossman. It's also important for the whole country. It is the biggest private collection of horse-drawn vehicles ever put together.
The Story of George Mossman
The amazing collection was created by George Mossman. He was born in Luton in 1908. After the First World War, George left school. He started working for a local butcher as a delivery driver. This job sparked his lifelong interest in horse-drawn transport.
George Mossman had a very interesting career. He ran several businesses and even a farm. He also owned a company that rented out horse-drawn carriages. These carriages were used for films, weddings, and special events.
George drove his carriages in London’s Lord Mayor's Show for 25 years. He even provided some carriages and drivers for Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953.
What You Can See at the Museum
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1548357.jpg)
The museum displays 54 vehicles that belonged to George Mossman. It also includes carriages from the Luton Museum Services' own collection. In total, there are more than 63 vehicles to see.
You can find original carriages from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. There are also copies of vehicles made for films. George Mossman worked with famous film studios like Pinewood and Elstree.
Some of the unique vehicles include:
- An 18th-century landau: This is a fancy carriage with a folding top.
- An early-19th-century barouche: This is another elegant carriage, often open at the front.
- An 1890s 'char-a-bang': This was an early type of bus used for public transport.
These vehicles are in very good condition. They help us imagine what life was like when horses were the main way to travel.
