Front side of a postcard illustrating two horse omnibuses in competition (1910-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Today, red buses are so much a part of the London scene that you might be forgiven for thinking that they'd always been there. But it was the horse bus which dominated the streets of London for around 100 years
Portrait of George Shillibeer (1860-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
The Shillibeer Omnibus
Born in the Tottenham Court Road area in 1797, Shillibeer became a partner in a coach making business in Bloomsbury and eventually travelled to France where the carriage trade was prospering
On retuning to London, Shillibeer realised that the public carriages operating in the capital lacked the essential feature of a bus service - picking up and setting down of passengers on request without the need for pre-booking.
Shillibeer Omnibus (1829-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
The First Horse Bus in London
The first regular horse bus service in London was started by George Shillibeer on the 4th July 1829, from Paddington Green to Bank via New Road
The 3-horse, single-deck vehicles, carried 22 passengers each and ran between 4 and 5 times per day for a fare of 1s (5p)
Shillibeer’s omnibuses followed guaranteed departure times, whether the vehicle was full or not, and it wasn't necessary to book in advance. A uniformed conductor also took fares from passengers - something that hadn't been seen before
Competition was Shillibeer's downfall. By 1831, there were 90 omnibuses operating on the Paddington to Bank route, and that year Shillibeer was declared bankrupt. He retired from buses in 1834 and spent the reminder of his life as a funeral director. He died in 1866 and was buried in Chigwell churchyard.
The Memorial Tablet (1929-10-01)TfL Corporate Archives
In 1929, busmen erected a tablet in Chigwell Churchyard
The memorial tablet to coachbuilder George Shillibeer acknowledged him as "Inventor of the London Omnibus" and referred to him as a model employer who "served his day and generation well"
London General Omnibus Company Bus (1890-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Post Shillibeer: Horse Bus Companies Operating in London
By the 1890s, horse buses reached the peak of efficiency and comfort with many companies in operation including the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC), the London Road Car Company, Thomas Tilling Ltd and the Associated Omnibus Company (which was established in 1900)
Horse buses on the Strand (1900-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
In 1856 the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) was formed and by the year-end had acquired 600 of the 810 omnibuses (all horse drawn) then running to become the world’s largest bus operator, carrying 52 million passengers a year
By 1905, the LGOC was carrying around 108,00,000 passengers with 1,414 omnibuses operating in London. The company owned 17,384 horses in 1905, decreasing to 15,617 in 1906.
The LGOC's revenue streams weren't just limited to passenger fares, but advertising on omnibuses and selling horse manure
London Road-Car Company ltd Report by the Directors to the 46th Half-Yearly Meeting of Shareholders (1905-12-31)TfL Corporate Archives
Another Major Player
The London Road Car Company Director's report and accounts for half-year ending 31 December 1905
Increased Passenger Demand
In 1904, the London Road Car Company owned 5,510 horses, decreasing to 4,913 in 1905. However, demand increased. The company carried 36,275,065 in 1905, compared with 35,687,415 passengers in 1904
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.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
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