EHL53. Luggage Porters Stand. Victorian/Edwardian. Henley House, 4 Enys Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: happy.dots.heads

Licence plates were attached to the base of a wall where the licence holder was permitted to stand whilst awaiting hire.  

Boundary wall approximately 8 metres (27 feet) to the right of the right-hand gate pillar.

The strange thing is, I lived in Enys Road for many years and must have walked passed this plate hundreds of times without noticing it! But this plate was so well disguised against the surrounding brickwork that it also eluded the 1973, 1984, and 2013 surveys, until reported by Kelly Van Doorn (Heritage Eastbourne Collections Officer) in June 2023.

Repainted by Bob Cookson.

EHL27. Luggage Porters Stand. Victorian/Edwardian. Colonnade Gardens, Eastbourne. what3words location: circulate.simmer.commit

Licence plates were attached to the base of a wall where the licence holder was permitted to stand whilst awaiting hire.  

Harold Spear's 1973 article stated ‘These stands were used by outside porters who had hand barrows, and were available for the carrying of luggage around the town, and to and from the Railway Station.’  The article then described their uniforms as just consisting of a peaked cap with an armband in the form of a metal plate, on straps, which was worded ‘Outside Porter.’  

Previous ELHS articles give the location as 'Queen's Gardens, wall of Queen's Hotel carpark,' but this particular plate is just around the corner in Colonnade Gardens (previously called Colonnade Road), which makes me wonder if there was originally more than one on the hotel wall?

To be repainted by Bob Cookson.

EHL33. Hackney Carriage Stand. Victorian/Edwardian. King Edward's Parade, Eastbourne. what3words location: limp.plates.hulk

Licence plates were attached to the base of a wall where the licence holder was permitted to stand whilst awaiting hire.  This photograph clearly shows the hammer marks above the nail hole where it would have originally been struck with a club hammer to drive its spike/tang into the ground to secure it in place.

Boundary wall of Wish Tower grounds opposite the Wilmington Square end of Grand Court.

To be repainted by Bob Cookson.

Harold Spears 1974 article stated that the classes of vehicles and operators required to be licensed varied over the years.  Between 1873 and 1876 Hackney Carriages were classified as: -

1st Class – Carriages drawn by 2 horses, and licenced for 4 or more passengers.

2nd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 horse, or 2 ponies or mules, and licenced for more than 2 passengers.

3rd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 pony or mule, and licenced for not more than 3 passengers.  

4th Class – Bath Chair whether drawn by hand or by a donkey.

In 1893 the list had expanded to: -

Hackney Carriages 1st Class – 59 

Hackney Carriages 2nd Class – 5

Hackney Carriages 3rd Class – 9 

Hackney Carriages 4th Class – 50

Hackney Carriages 5th Class (Goat Chaises) – 4

EHL46. Hackney Carriage Stand. Victorian/Edwardian. King Edward's Parade, Eastbourne. what3words location: into.coats.muddy

Licence plates were attached to the base of a wall where the licence holder was permitted to stand whilst awaiting hire. 

Can be difficult to find this one in spring/summer due to plant growth, bit it's on the boundary wall of Wish Tower grounds opposite Citrus Hotel and opposite third disabled bay.  Between lamppost No10 & ‘Disabled Badge Holders Only’ sign.  

To be repainted by Bob Cookson.

Harold Spears 1974 article stated that the classes of vehicles and operators required to be licensed varied over the years.  Between 1873 and 1876 Hackney Carriages were classified as: -

1st Class – Carriages drawn by 2 horses, and licenced for 4 or more passengers.

2nd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 horse, or 2 ponies or mules, and licenced for more than 2 passengers.

3rd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 pony or mule, and licenced for not more than 3 passengers.  

4th Class – Bath Chair whether drawn by hand or by a donkey.

In 1893 the list had expanded to: -

Hackney Carriages 1st Class – 59 

Hackney Carriages 2nd Class – 5

Hackney Carriages 3rd Class – 9 

Hackney Carriages 4th Class – 50

Hackney Carriages 5th Class (Goat Chaises) – 4

EHL84. Hackney Carriage Stand. Victorian/Edwardian. King Edward's Parade, Eastbourne. what3words location: likes.dangerously.patch

Licence plates were attached to the base of a wall where the licence holder was permitted to stand whilst awaiting hire.  

Boundary wall of Wish Tower grounds opposite Wilmington Square gardens.  

To be repainted by Bob Cookson.

Harold Spears 1974 article stated that the classes of vehicles and operators required to be licensed varied over the years.  Between 1873 and 1876 Hackney Carriages were classified as: -

1st Class – Carriages drawn by 2 horses, and licenced for 4 or more passengers.

2nd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 horse, or 2 ponies or mules, and licenced for more than 2 passengers.

3rd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 pony or mule, and licenced for not more than 3 passengers.  

4th Class – Bath Chair whether drawn by hand or by a donkey.

In 1893 the list had expanded to: -

Hackney Carriages 1st Class – 59 

Hackney Carriages 2nd Class – 5

Hackney Carriages 3rd Class – 9 

Hackney Carriages 4th Class – 50

Hackney Carriages 5th Class (Goat Chaises) – 4

EHL42. Hackney Carriage Stand. Victorian/Edwardian. The Avenue near ‘Avenue Snacks’ sandwich bar, Eastbourne. what3words location: ports.noses.kind

 

Licence plates were attached to the base of a wall where the licence holder was permitted to stand whilst awaiting hire.  

Boundary wall of Upperton Gardens opposite No5 The Avenue.  This one was difficult to find as it was covered in ivy.  

This plate is fitted, not in the ground, but higher up the wall.  Obviously its tang/spike is missing, but it's still attached to the wall with its original blacksmith made large nails.  I suspect it was fitted in this location as the area at the base of the wall may have originally been grassed over which would have made it difficult to see.

Repainted by Bob Cookson.

Harold Spears 1974 article stated that the classes of vehicles and operators required to be licensed varied over the years.  Between 1873 and 1876 Hackney Carriages were classified as: -

1st Class – Carriages drawn by 2 horses, and licenced for 4 or more passengers.

2nd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 horse, or 2 ponies or mules, and licenced for more than 2 passengers.

3rd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 pony or mule, and licenced for not more than 3 passengers.  

4th Class – Bath Chair whether drawn by hand or by a donkey.

In 1893 the list had expanded to: -

Hackney Carriages 1st Class – 59 

Hackney Carriages 2nd Class – 5

Hackney Carriages 3rd Class – 9 

Hackney Carriages 4th Class – 50

Hackney Carriages 5th Class (Goat Chaises) – 4

EHL43. Hackney Carriage Stand. Victorian/Edwardian. St. Johns Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: flops.splash.crush

 

Licence plates were attached to the base of a wall where the licence holder was permitted to stand whilst awaiting hire.  

Another of the plates that I discovered that had not previously appeared in any survey results.  

Boundary wall of electricity substation opposite The Moorings block of flats.  Triangle of land bounded by Meads Road, Milnthorpe Road, and St. Johns Road.

Straightened and repainted by Bob Cookson.

Harold Spears 1974 article stated that the classes of vehicles and operators required to be licensed varied over the years.  Between 1873 and 1876 Hackney Carriages were classified as: -

1st Class – Carriages drawn by 2 horses, and licenced for 4 or more passengers.

2nd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 horse, or 2 ponies or mules, and licenced for more than 2 passengers.

3rd Class - Carriages drawn by 1 pony or mule, and licenced for not more than 3 passengers.  

4th Class – Bath Chair whether drawn by hand or by a donkey.

In 1893 the list had expanded to: -

Hackney Carriages 1st Class – 59 

Hackney Carriages 2nd Class – 5

Hackney Carriages 3rd Class – 9 

Hackney Carriages 4th Class – 50

Hackney Carriages 5th Class (Goat Chaises) – 4