Stage Coach stops at Conisbrough

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A stagecoach drawn by two grey and two white horses attracted the attention of more orthodox travellers in cars on Tuesday before it took Mr William Smith, of Ready House, Darley Dale (Derbyshire) to the Doncaster St Leger race meeting.

The party all riding on top of the impressive redcoat, which is named “Gay God,” Dr the hill top auto Conisbrough, for the morning break. The stock was heralded by the guard going is post on.

The court overs and 50 years old, was in regular use 1840 when it travelled from Edinburgh to London in 39 hours with 39 changes of horses. It then travelled along the same road through Conisbrough as it travelled on Tuesday.

Mr Smith who comes to Doncaster races every year by Stagecoach with his family, has several stagecoaches and runs a riding school at Darley Dale. His sister-in-law Miss G Jepson, who travel with the family, is probably the only woman whip driver in the county.

The party left from Darley Dale at 6 AM and arrived at Doncaster at 11 AM.

Although there are no stables at Hilltop as in the old days, the horses were groomed, fed and watered by a groom travelling with the party, while the family stopped to eat.

The two grey horses used were a pair which drew the Duke of Devonshire’s coach in the Coronation procession in 1953.

Mrs Smith expects to do the same journey to Doncaster and back again today (Friday)