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Photo submitted by Rebecca Seear, Windsor Carriages
@windsorcarriages_
Our story in Windsors heritage and history begins in 1649, when Oliver Cromwell's Act of Parliament first introduced licensed hackney carriages (horse drawn taxis) to London's streets. By 1687, Windsor had established its own taxi stand, marking the town's early embrace of this vital form of transport.
Victorian Carriages
The Windsor Castle Act of 1848 reshaped the town's landscape, closing ancient roads and establishing new thoroughfares like Victoria and Albert Bridges. Crucially, it restricted general vehicular access to The Long Walk in Windsor but made a special exception for licensed taxis - a privilege we still hold today. While other towns transitioned to motor vehicles in the early 20th century, our Windsor licenses were never converted to a car, thus preserving our unique connection to this historic tradition and access to our royal town.
Traditional Coachmen
When young John Seear (dad) took his first Windsor taxi ride in 1949, he could never have imagined he would one day play a vital role in preserving Windsor’s living history. Working with Windsor coachman, George Paget, —who himself had learned the craft from a Victorian coachman—John drove carriages on The Long Walk from 1974 to 2016. Today, his daughter Rebecca carries this legacy forward, working closely with Head Coachman Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan's horses and family are central to daily operations, supplemented by trusted coachmen and their horses from across Britain for large group and event bookings. Together, they ensure this unique historical tradition continues to thrive.
"My heaven is filled with good horses and open plains and wild cattle and a man who loves me." (Elsa, cowgirl, in 1883 series!) Being a cowgirl and horse woman is about resilience patience and persistence. No two days are the same and time with horses is always a day well spent. I am passionate about continuing working horses here in the UK . I am proud to be the first female owner of this business.