Wagons and horse-drawn transport

Museum Research

Wagons and horse-drawn transport

In this photo essay Sue Roberts curates historic photographs from the Museum’s collection to explore wagons, carts and other horse-drawn transport.

Horses have been an essential part of life for many centuries, and although they are no longer as necessary, they still have a place, in rural areas especially. Visiting Stithians Show or The Royal Cornwall Show emphasises their usefulness, capabilities and the sheer pleasure of using horses.  These photographs show how versatile horse-drawn equipages can be.

Dairy Horse and Cart in Wendron Street. Miss Queenie Bassett nee Giles. Now Mrs Pearce 1997 Eddy Pascoe’s wife (HESFM:2016.13226).
Vegetable delivery to Helston on Saturdays by Mr Crapp from Penboa Farm photographed in Meneage Street. The cottages on the left (Demolished since the 1950s) are opposite the top of Grange Road where the launderette is now (HESFM:2016.13226).
Two young girls operating a water pipe to fill a horse drawn water bowser. The water drum is being carried on a two wheeled wagon with tractor tires. The location of the photograph is unknown but believed to be in the Helston area (HESFM:2016.13274).
Coal Merchant’s horse and cart loaded with coasl sacks drawn by two horses (HESFM:2016.13696).
A copy black and white photograph of Mr Reggie Ould, the last dustcart in Helston, shown outside the Midland Bank in Market Place, 1950s (HESFM:2010.10996).
Helston Borough Fire Engine at a thatched cottage fire.         (HESFM:2016.13198).
Pilchard seller or Fish ‘Jouster’ selling her wares with donkey and cart (HESFM:1977.2894.6).
A black and white photograph of a reaping machine with two horses and a man wearing a cap in front of two thatched cottages at Treloskan Farm, Cury in the 1890’s. In addition there are two women a man with a teathered cow and a dog in the scene. Photographed by S&J Govier of Newtown, St Martin, Helston and presented by Mrs Rodda of Treloskan Farm (HESFM:1977.1430).
A postcard photograph of Mr. Tom Charles, 50, Wendron Street, Market Gardener and Greengrocer, with horse and cart and produce. Early 1900s (HESFM:1977.951).
Blacksmith’s forge at Godolphin Cross in 1902. George Reynolds is standing first from left. William Rowe, the blacksmith, is standing second from left with his dog Ben. Jimmy Johns is standing in the centre. Jimmy bought the forge from the Godolphin Estate in 1921, paying £150 for both the cottage and forge. Harry Magor is seated on a horse and “Streamer John” is in the donkey trap (HESFM:2012.11904).
Postcard showing the staff of Hendy’s saddler and harness making shop in Meneage Street. The name “Harris” is directly above the door and probably refers to Thomas Shepherd Harris who previously owned the saddler’s shop (HESFM:1995.6512).
Flooding on Porthleven Road does not seem to stop this transport  (HESFM:2016.13238).
A framed photograph of an eight horse team ploughing Helston Downs, about 1910. Messrs. S. Williams, Jennings, T. Chynoweth, W. Chynoweth, Jennings, J. Charles. There is some confusion over this photograph as another in the which states that they are ploughing Goonhilly Downs (HESFM:1977.1428).
Museum of Cornish Life

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