Ipswich Transport Museum
Preserving the transport heritage of Ipswich since 1965, and now supported by the Friends of the Ipswich Transport Museum. The Ipswich Transport Museum is a Registered Charity No. 276626 and an Accredited Museum, number RD890.
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Sedan Chair
No Picture Available
Date:1870s
Registration:-
Acquired by the Museum:1996 (on loan)
Current State:As acquired
This is one of the earliest forms of public transport. It originated several hundred years ago as a chair which could be carried on poles by two or more men. Our example was originally carried by two men. The lack of proper roads or pavements, together with the general dirt and unhealthy conditions in towns and cities would have encouraged the use of sedan chairs as a form of taxi for short journeys.

This Sedan Chair came from Bury St. Edmunds where an old lady was still transported in it to church during the early part of this century. Apparently she eventually was unable to pay the two footmen, and so the chair was modified by adding wheels at the rear, enabling one man to drag his load to church every Sunday!

This exhibit is on loan from Ipswich Borough Museums.

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