Some Regular Stage Coach Names and Scheduled Routes from London Through Stoke Goldington
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Most vehicles were licensed to carry four passengers ’inside’ and eleven ’outside’.
“The Courier” to Leeds: Operator J. Francis & Co.
Departed ’Belle Sauvage’ Inn, Ludgate Hill 5 p.m. northward through Stoke Goldington then Northampton, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Wakefield and Leeds.
177 miles. Journey time 24 hours. The southbound service left Leeds at 6 p.m.
“The Union” to Leicester: Operator E. Sherman & Co.
Departed ’Bull & Mouth’ Inn, St Martin-le-Grand 6.30 a.m. and northwards through Stoke Goldington, Northampton, Market Harborough to Leicester.
98 miles Journey time 12 hours
“The Umpire” to Liverpool: Operator B. W. Horne & Co.
Departed “Golden Cross” Inn, Charing Cross at 2 p.m. through Stoke Goldington at about 8 p.m. and continuing through Northampton, Welford, Lutterworth, Hinckley, Tamworth, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyne, Warrington and Liverpool.
211 miles. Journey time of 24 hours. The southward journey departed Liverpool 12 noon.
NB Interestingly whilst the Mail coach took the more unusual route through Chester and the Wirral, this stagecoach followed the traditional route, crossing the River Mersey at Runcorn then heading northward to Warrington before turning west to Liverpool.
“The Telegraph” to Manchester: Operator E. Sherman & Co.
Departed ‘Bull & Mouth’ St Mary le Grand at 5.30 a.m. passing through Stoke Goldington at about 11.30 a.m. then Northampton, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Derby, Ashbourne , Leek, Macclesfield, Stockport and Manchester.
191 miles. Journey time of 18.5 hours – an average speed of nearly 10.5 m.p.h. and somewhat faster than the Liverpool 9 m.p.h. The southward journey departed Manchester 5 a.m.
“The Northampton”: Operator E. Sherman & Co.
Departed ‘Angel’, Bridge Street, Northampton 9.30 a.m. passing through Stoke Goldington about 11 a.m. and arriving at ‘The Bull & Mouth’
St Mary-le-Grand 4.30 p.m. – a journey time of 7 hours for the 66 miles.
The northward journey left the Bull & Mouth at 12 noon, passing through Stoke Goldington about 5.30 p.m. and arriving at the Angel at 7 p.m.
“The Times” to Leeds: Operator W Chaplin & Co
Departed ‘Swan with Two Necks’ , Lad Lane at 6.45 a.m. passing through Stoke Goldington about 12.45 p.m. and onward through Northampton, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham.
124 miles with a journey time of 14.75 hours.
“The Commercial” As above but departed London at 4.45 p.m. and known as “the Night Coach”.
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