COACH

The earliest carriages appear to have been open, judging from the carvings of A yrian and Babylonish chariots. After the fall of the m Roman Empire it was the custom to ride, and the 15th century only women and invalids used carriages. They were probably introduced into England in the 16th century and hackney coaches were first used in London in 1625,; and stage coaches about the same time. Before the end of the 17th century the latter were running on the three principal roads in England. The first mail coach ran between London and Bristol in 1784.