Post chaise

A post-chaise is a travelling carriage operated in the 18th and early 19th centuries, travelling from staging post-to-post, and changing horses at each stage. With an enclosed body on four wheels, seating two people, and drawn by two or four horses, it is basically a chariot carriage with the coachman's seat removed. Riders, called postilions, rode the near-side (left) horse of each pair pulling the carriage.

Hired when long-distance travel at speed was very important, a post chaise would be taken with its own postilions and horses. At the next posting station the postilions would most likely return to their base with their own horses but might continue the journey with fresh horses.

Private posting was expensive, and passengers — particularly if the only passenger was a woman — would be accompanied by one or two of their own footmen riding behind the body of the post chaise. The footmen would be responsible for making all travel arrangements.

Private individuals did own their own post chaises; some had their light chariots made with the coachman's seat removable. Designed to withstand rapid long-distance travel, the post chaise should have been utilitarian, but private vehicles might be extravagantly decorated and finished.