Curricle

For the small, lightweight boat, see Coracle.

Curricle

Curricle, oil by John Cordrey (1806)

A curricle is a light two-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses abreast. Usually open with a falling hood, it seats two people, plus a liveried groom on a seat or small platform between the rear springs—whose weight might be required to properly balance the carriage. Curricles are harnessed with a pole between the horses, and have an iron crossbar (the curricle bar) which rests over the harness saddle and supports the weight of the pole.^{[1][2][3]: 154} The lightweight "swept" body is hung from a pair of outsized swan-neck cee-springs at the rear, with a minimal dashboard and a pair of lamps in front. For park driving, such as in the Bois de Boulogne or along the seafront at Honfleur, two liveried mounted grooms might follow.^[4]

The curricle originated in Italy and came to England in the early 1800s by way of France.^[1][2] The word curricle comes from curriculum, the name of the Roman racing chariot.^[1] In Latin, the word curriculum means "running", "racecourse" or "chariot".^[5] The French adopted the English-sounding word carrick for such vehicles.

Accidents with curricles were common. The ratio of draft—one lightweight carriage compared to two horses pulling—was so low that curricles were often driven faster than they should, leading to collisions or accidents when a horse slipped.^[6][3]: 95 The danger, plus the development of the safer phaeton and cabriolet, replaced curricles as the fashionable carriage of the time.^[7]

It was a vehicle of easy draught, and could be driven at great speed. Unfortunately it was rather dangerous if the horses shied or stumbled, and this tended to reduce the demand for it.

— Lilian Baker Carlisle ^[8]: 8

See also

• Carriage
• Horse-drawn vehicle

References

1. Smith, D.J.M. (1988). A Dictionary of Horse Drawn Vehicles. J. A. Allen & Co. Ltd. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0851314686. OL 11597864M.
2. Walrond, Sallie (1979). The Encyclopaedia of Driving. Country Life Books. pp. 100–101. ISBN 0600331822. OL 4175648M.
3. Felton, William (1996) [1796]. A Treatise on Carriages (Reprint of both volumes). Astragal Press. ISBN 1879335700. OL 21753408M. (Original Vol I, Original Vol II)
4. "Notes sur les voitures hippomobiles" (in French). Archived from the original on 17 February 2006.
5. "World Wide Words: Curriculum". World Wide Words.
6. "R v Pigott and Crampton - Supreme Court of New South Wales - Dowling J., 4 March 1828". Sydney Gazette. 7 March 1828. Archived from the original on 14 January 2001 – via Macquarie Law School. A child is run over by two gentlemen in a curricle.
7. Prince-Sheldon, J., ed. (22 March 2021). British and Foreign Horses - A Comprehensive Guide to Equestrian Knowledge Including Breeds and Breeding, Health and Management. Read Books Ltd (published 2021). ISBN 9781528767309. Retrieved 12 August 2022. The mail phaeton as improved, and the cabriolet as perfected, killed the curricle. These, while nearly as expensive, were much less difficult to produce in perfection, and infinitely less dangerous.
8. Carlisle, Lilian Baker (1956). The Carriages at Shelburne Museum. Shelburne Museum. OL 6215577M.

Further reading

• Boyle, Laura (6 January 2000). "Gigs, Cabriolets and Curricles". Jane Austen Centre. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012.