BEST OF BRITAIN
London Cab (Hansom variety) from 1910
“Around the 17th century, taxis were referred to as ‘Hackneys’. This term does not relate to the area of London but to a French word ‘Hacquenee,’ which is a compact small breed of horse with a wide stepping trot.”
for hire from the inns, taverns and stews. In 1636, retired sea captain John Bailey
revolutionised the taxi trade. He bought a fleet of taxis, dressed the drivers in livery, instigated set fares and introduced plying for hire off the streets. He also established the first official taxi rank in the Strand, called the ‘Maypole’. Tis was a huge suc- cess for the public and other cabmen would drive by slowly past the rank to see if there was a gap in the rank for them to get on. After the Civil War, one of Oliver
Cromwell’s first acts was to pass legislation to provide the setting up of the fellowship of Hackney coachmen. Tis was in recog- nition for their services to Cromwell as an artillery train during the conflict between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers. During Cromwell’s time, taxi ranks were estab- lished as well as the introduction of fare scales and the six mile rule, which has now changed to 12 miles. Tis related to the six miles of communication between the chain of defence set up around London before the Civil War.
14 FOCUS The Magazine March/April 2020 In 1694, licensing was reintroduced for
400 drivers. Since then there has been continuous uninterrupted licensing, mak- ing London’s taxi industry the oldest reg- ulated land transport system in the world. By 1760 there were more than 1,000 li-
cenced taxis on the roads and with the advances in technology and design, there were various models of taxis on the mar- ket, until 1823 when David Davies de- signed the Cabriolet from which the term cab derives. Te driver would sit on the back of the carriage while a single horse propelled the two seated passengers in- side. By 1836 Davies introduced the Clarence or as it was nicknamed the “Growler” because of the sound of the carriage going over the cobbled roads. Tis time the driver sat on the front and it could seat four passengers. By 1843, the London Hackney
Carriages Act gave responsibility and overall control of the trade to the com- missionaire of police and meant that not only did the proprietors have to be li- censed but drivers had to display their
metal badge with their identification num- ber on it, much as we have to today. London hosted the Great Exhibition at
Hyde Park in 1851. Te Crystal Palace that covered an area of 20 acres was a tem- porary structure and showcased the inno- vative inventions and designs of the Victorian era. In six months it attracted six million visitors, however it also attracted complaints from the public about the inep- titude of the cab drivers. Once the authori- ties were aware of this problem they put in place an examination for all new applicants to become licensed cab drivers: the Knowledge. Te applicants were expected to know the area within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross, 113 square miles. Tis included all streets, public buildings, shops, restaurants, places of worship, in fact anywhere that a passenger hailing a cab would want to go. Te candidate would have to undertake regular stringent exams during this learning process to en- sure they were a fit and proper person to obtain a taxi driver’s licence. Tis system of examination has not changed, thus proving
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