CARMEN, CARTERS and CARRIERS

During the Middle Ages farmers generally delivered their own produce to their local markets. But in some cases, rather than drive a waggon themselves, many used their agricultural labourers to act as carters driving simple two-wheeled carts or heavier four-wheeled farm waggons. However, from the sixteenth century, most journeys were undertaken using the farm waggons and local people were often carried as well; some carriers even scheduled a time-tabled journey.

Local carriers developed regular routes most of which were exclusive. For both the farmer and the ag lab, taking goods to market became a social occasion and offered a chance to keep up with local and national news; in addition,  perhaps a farmer might meet a potential wife and he would also be able to look for and engage labourers particularly at the hiring fairs.

By the early 1600s virtually all of England and Wales was connected to London by weekly services using a published timetable showing days and times of arrival and departure at the staging inns on route and the final destination point.

For many people, going by a carrier was the cheapest form of travel. The local carriers regularly took passengers into the local market towns with the local services despite the advent of the canals and railways. Some rural carriers were still operating into the mid-twentieth century. As early as 1575, the Oxford wagon set off to London each Wednesday returning on Saturday.

The carriers' waggons were usually high four-wheeled vehicles with a bench fitted to each side. Passengers needed to climb steps placed at the rear and they sat on both sides facing inward. They were also exposed to the elements. They shared their ride with other goods and even livestock. In most rural areas it is thought that people requiring the services of the carrier would place a flag in their cottage window or a recognisable sign on a gatepost so that he would stop and allow them to board the waggon.

The carman were described as the “mercury of our merchants” because he had pride in the appearance of horse and harness; in addition, his knowledge of his locality was second to none, he was able to avoid tolls but still use the turnpike where possible and were unmerciful denouncers of idleness. Carmen were nearly always accompanied by a well-trained dog. Many were Liberals and read liberal nespapers the Advertiser or the Dispatch..

The cabmen had the reputation that they never used a whip and had a silent understanding between man and horse. Most were family traditionalists.

Since ancient times carmen were moving goods and materials including wine, wood, and fuel within and beyond the city boundaries. Traditionally the Carmen fellowship dates from 1272 when the City authorities passed a by-law controlling carriers. The actual origins of the Worshipful Company date from 1514 when the Fraternity of St Katherine the Virgin and Martyr was formed to give Carmen a monopoly of plying for trade within the City of London. They became independent in 1668 by an Act of Common Council but it was not until 1946 that they received a Royal charter from King George VI. The Carmen were originally carriers of goods.

The carmen had ‘carrooms’ (not unlike a taxi rank) from where they plied their trade for hire but due to competition from the wood mongers became short of finances, so in 1582 Christ’s Hospital accepted ‘the rule, charge and oversight…of Carts, Carres and Carmen.”. From 1811 to 1838 the carmen were in dispute with Christ’s Hospital so the City Corporation took over and made its only grant of livery to the carmen in 1848.

By 1835 there were 600 licensed carts within the city but in 1838 governing legislation was repealed following which the licensing of carts was under the control of the City Corporation through the General Purposes Committee. The annual licence fee was five shillings and there were penalties for operating without a licence. The legislation remains in force today. The terms of a cart license required the ‘Cart Man’ (carman) to be member of the Carmen’s company and to have an authorised Carroom.

Records of the livery company held by the City of London Joint Archive Service include:

Constitutional records 1831-1946

Court records (court minute books)1668 -1972

Membership records 1667-1935

Apprenticeship bindings - 2,444 surviving apprenticeship records

Registers of Freeman admissions and declaration rolls

Proprietors and operators of carrooms 1749 - 1836

Quarterage books 1706 - 1921

Financial records (wardens account books, cash books etc.)1665 - 1972

Trade records 1665 -1849

Clerks records 1846 -1873

Estate records 1749 -1970