A gig is a two-wheeled vehicle with a fixed forward seat to accommodate the driver and one passenger. It could be driven by one horse or with two horses in a tandem (one horse in front of the other). The gig was built in an attempt to make the suspension of two-wheeled vehicles more comfortable for both horses and passengers. The gig was one of the most common vehicles on the road in England during the 19th century. The boot under the seat was popular with traveling salesmen and people who commuted between suburbs and the city. Most urban London houses had a gig house to store these carts.

The Stanhope Gig was designed and first driven by the Hon. Fitzroy Stanhope in 1814. It has rubber tires and a four-spring suspension. The shafts completely encircle the rear of the body and the seatback is spindled. The body has a vertical pillar at the front edge of the seat and boot known as the "Stanhope Pillar."

The Stanhope Gig in the Winmill Carriage Collection was restored by Earl Lloyd of Charlottesville, Virginia.
 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Berkebile, Don H. Carriage Terminology; A Historical Dictionary, 1978.
Kopitzke, Kenneth. Prarie Primer.
Smith, D.J.M. A Dictionary of Horse-Drawn Carriages, 1988.
Walrond, Sallie. Looking at Carriages, 1992.
 

Past Items of Interest

Hearse
The Hansom Cab
The Caleche
The Skeleton Break
The Steam Pumper
The Tom Thumb Carriage
The Sprinkler Wagon
The Omnibus
The Governess or Tub Cart
The Winmill Zebra