Horse Maintenance and Stabling

Horses were an asset to the London omnibus companies. Find out how they were looked after and cared for

London General Omnibus Company Capacities of Stables (1900-12-31)TfL Corporate Archives

Horses were a financial asset

In the late 1860’s, the price of a horse could vary between around £26 to £60, that’s £3,000 to £6,000 in 2023 money. The London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) logged horse purchases in a register

London General Omnibus Company Ltd: Horse Book (1875-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives

The Horse Book

Register relating to the purchase and sale of horses including type of horse, purchased from, date purchased, name of the horse, and price

The company also recorded the sale of a horse which could be sold on cheaply. Horses were sold on if they were “worn out”, “lame” or subject to illness like colic also known as “gripes”

London General Omnibus Company Ltd: Horse Book (1876-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives

Each horse had a unique name

"Victoria", "Smiler", "Nimrod", "King Tom", "Walter", "Respect", "Pero", "Harvey", "Hercules", "Champagne", "Breadalbane" are some of the names listed in LGOC's Horse Book from 1876


They were all well looked after with dedicated employees and veterinary staff keeping them, washed, groomed, fed, and shoed

Horse washers (1901-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives

Horse washers at Hackney depot in 1901

Each horse had to be individually washed, brushed and groomed after a days work


Horses were fed oats and maize, the latter being cheaper, with a weight of 60lbs costing £1 11 shillings 6 pence, whilst 38lbs of oats cost £1 in 1865 (c.£103 in 2023)

Printed Extract from London General Omnibus Company Ltd Minutes Book (1865-12-14)TfL Corporate Archives

Maize for Horse Food

Inspired by several companies based outside London, the LGOC started to feed its horses maize

In 1910, the Managing Director of the Associated Omnibus Company noted in company minutes that “there is a marked improvement in the condition of our horses, which I attribute largely to the feeding partly on maize…”

Associated Omnibus Company Limited: Board Minute Book Managing Director's Report (1910-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives

Extract from minutes discussing the improved condition of horses due to the feeding of maize

Thomas Tilling Ltd: Register of Omnibus Horses (1903-02-01)TfL Corporate Archives

Thomas Tilling Ltd: Register of Omnibus Horses

When a horse became ill and couldn't work anymore, they were retired to the Knackers Yard

This register extract records the sale of horses to the Knacker's Yard, including their names, the date of sale, stable yard origin and cause of death

Deed relating to Queen's Arms Public House, Kilburn (1898-02-21)TfL Corporate Archives

Stabling at Queen's Arms Public House, Kilburn

When the horses weren't operating the buses, they were stabled at various locations across London. Some London businesses would lease stabling yards to the companies

Yard stables were leased to the London General Omnibus Company by Young's Brewery on the 21st February 1898

Deed relating to Queen's Arms Public House, Kilburn (1898-02-21)TfL Corporate Archives

Drawing of the Queen's Arms Yard Stables Premises

Leased to the LGOC to house their horses by Young's Brewery

Sometimes omnibus companies would enter into stabling negotiations with each other to provide additional resting places for the horses, thereby enabling them to put on extra omnibuses.

In 1910, the Managing Director of the Associated Omnibus company entered into an agreement with the LGOC to stable 90 horses at Britannia Street, King’s Cross, at a rental of £2 3s 6d per horse (c.£194 in 2023).

Associated Omnibus Company Limited: Board Minute Book Managing Director's Report (1910-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives

Stabling agreements between companies

Omnibus companies would enter into stabling agreements with each other to provide extra resting places for the horses, thereby enabling them to run extra omnibuses


This 1910 agreement details the LGOC stabling 90 horses of a rival company at the rate of  £2 3s 6d per horse

Credits: Story

Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.

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