"Hints to Railway Travellers and Country Visitors to London" by an Old Stager.

Extracts from "Hints to Railway Travellers and Country Visitors to London" by an Old Stager. Bradbury & Evans, 1852

Some extracts, to give a taste of travel in the mid 19th century. I have not included anything obviously relating to London - but e.g. would sending luggage by goods train have been available in Lincolnshire??__________________________________

Railways....... have annihilated the prejudice against public conveyances, and abolished the old stiff-necked line of demarcation between posting and coaching company. They have opened the world out to every one.
The second-class carriages are infinitely better than the inside of the old stage-coaches used to be, while in every particular except cushions, which are easily supplied, the advantages of easy, expeditious transit are the same in the second-class carriage as in the first. Indeed, in summer, we do not know but the second, or even an open third class, is preferable, being cooler and less dust-catching, owing to the absence of cushions......Where there are ladies, however, the first-class is desirable....

LUGGAGE

One would wonder how people contrived in former days to get themselves and their wants into a stage-coach or carriage and pair, so expansive have they become with railway times. It is not now the carrying, but the paying for it, that forms the difficulty; and twenty shillings is soon run away with for extra luggage by express train...........

If ............. the luggage is still likely to be onerous, pack all the heavy articles into one box, and send them by GOODS TRAIN a day or two before you go yourselves, directed to the care of any friend or tradesman, or, if a total stranger, to be left at the luggage-office, at the station you are to arrive at till called or sent for.

If, however, you feel disposed to risk over weight, have a few luggage-labels, ready directed, in your pocket, headed "GOODS TRAIN," to be affixed on any packages containing articles that you will not be in immediate want of, in case the lynx-eyed porters begin whispering and hinting about having your luggage weighed.

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Speaking of travelling generally, it is well, if you can, to avoid travelling at holiday and great excursion train times, as there is always more or less confusion on the lines; also, always write to the station-master a day or two before you want a horse-box, or a carriage truck, as they are not always to be had at the moment.

AT THE DEPARTURE STATION

Something I have yet to look up is when seat reservations were first introduced.

If the train comes through, you must just take such seats as are vacant when it arrives, unless you have an interest with the station-master to secure you a carriage from the starting-place, or to have one ready to attach when the train arrives. A glove, a book, or anything left on a seat denotes that it is taken. Take yours that way.

See your luggage put on the roof of the carriage you occupy, and book the number of the carriage (which is often in a very indistinct place about the wheels), or you may have difficulty in finding your carriage, if you get out after the train lengthens. The seats with the back to the engine are the warmest and least exposed, but at some stations (the York for instance) they reverse the engine, and what goes in head comes out tail. Invalids should note this, and change accordingly.

It is well to have a newspaper - or say this book - in your hand, to resort to in case tiresome people will talk - a purpose that railway travelling was never intended for. If you buy the "Times" at starting, you may barter it for the "Post," the "Post" for the "Chronicle," and so on, at the different stations as you proceed, till you have read all the papers of the day for the price of one.

Carry your own provisions, by which means you can dine when you are hungry, instead of when the railway directors think you ought to be. Chickens cut up, and tongue sliced, with bread, biscuits, cakes, and so on, are most convenient. Don't forget the salt. Buy sandwiches, if you do buy.

The quickest Express generally gives time for drinking, but if you don't like getting out of the carriage you can add sherry and water, or brandy and water, to the stock. Ask how long the train stops before you alight, and on no account attempt to do so before it stops.

If travelling singly, it is well not to enter a carriage containing an evident party, but rather put up with a seat elsewhere. Should anyone, however, do so by you, make way for him at once by clearing your wraps and things off the spare seat, and do not treat him as an intruder.

Railway rugs are much in vogue for travelling, but a shepherd's plaid or maud is a better thing, being applicable to any part of the person that is cold, and convertible into a counterpane at night. Caps and wraps of all sorts are to be had at the principal stations; but the less healthy people coddle and wrap themselves the better.

LODGINGS

The book refers to lodgings in London.   I have left out London oriented pieces, but noted headings as e.g. buying food and laundry would be needed in Cleethorpes. And lodgings in Cleethorpes may have been different to those in London. 

In looking for lodgings, survey the exterior of the house with a "Lodgings to let" in the window, to see whether it looks like such a one as you may expect to find rooms of the size you require.........

It would be a great convenience, if lodging letters would specify in their windows what they have to let, as for instance, a first or second floor, or a first floor, or the parlours, which means the ground floor.

In looking for lodgings avoid corner houses, as they entail a double allowance of noise, also musicians, tailors, bakers, doctors, dentists, and undertakers.

The private house lodging letters pretend to decry lodgings above shops, but if you see comfortable rooms above other than the professions or trades we have named, do not be prevented taking them on that account. Your friends will not suppose you keep the shop, while it may be satisfactory to know that the lodging letters have other means of living than upon you.

Having seen what from the outside you think will do you, you know proceed to knock at the door. If it is opened by a dirty slip-shod girl; if in addition the mat is ragged and the passage dirty, back out as quickly as you can, saying if they have a first floor to let that you want a second, or if a second that you want a first, and so on. And here we may observe that London lodgings are of three sorts:

First, the house-agent's lodgings, or "apartments" as they call them, where no "let" appears in the window, and the business is transacted by a house agent.

Secondly, the "either lodgings or houses," as the takers require, where the letters transact their own business, and will go out, leaving their servants if required.

Thirdly, the regular first and second floor, or parlours to let, that one sees at every turn and corner of the town.

We are not great admirers of the house-agent's "apartments;" they are generally kept by pretending sort of people, who being above lodging letting, leave their inmates to the mercy of the servants, whose services they not unfrequently entirely monopolise themselves. We knew one who could not bear the idea of her servants seeing any money pass between her lodgers and herself, and begged the rent might be sent down stairs to her in a sealed envelope!

The second sort, the either lodgings or houses as the party requires, is convenient if your family is large, but there is a danger attending them that it may be well to make known. Many of the houses have a sort of work-shop or retiring rooms down the yard, and while the owners are supposed to be recreating at Margate or Herne Bay, they are in fact occupying these rooms and living upon their lodgers. We knew a case where a country family occupied a house of this description for a whole summer, without ever suspecting what was going on, and this notwithstanding they had some fine faithful old family servants of their own up with them. Therefore we say "beware of back settlements."

The third is the common sort, and to them we will direct our attention. These are chiefly in the hands of "faithful old family servants," learned in the doctrine of perquisites and polite peculation.

These are curious people to deal with. The smiling obsequious plausibility that marks the entry, often contrasting with the stern inflexibility of the cracked plate and uttermost farthing scene at the exit.

Look at three or four sets of lodgings at least before you begin to make up your mind upon any. This will enable you to judge of the current rate of prices, and also to play one set of lodgings off against another. If towards the close of a bargain the party begins to be exorbitant about trifles you had better cry off, as they will be sure to cheat you in the end. Be very particular in looking at the offices and conveniences and the supply of water. Ask if there are any children or other lodgers, and if so, who. Also if they dine at home, and at what hour, in order that your arrangements may not clash, as few lodgings can manage two dinners at a time.

Coals are a fertile source of imposition. You are supposed to be in town at a time of year when it requires a little nerve to face a candle to seal a letter, but for the less fortunate as to season, coals are often a serious item. A writer in the "Times" lately exposed how at an hotel he was charged 2s 6d. per day for 2 ½d. worth of coals! Lodging-house people will often try for 1s/ a day for a sitting-room fire, and 6d. for a fire in the bed-room, but 6d. is ample for the one and 3d. for the other; 3s. 6d. a week, or 6d. a day when you dine at home for the use of the kitchen-fire is also a common charge, though it is far too much. Some very exorbitant people try to make a charge for the passage lamp, but this is a sheer imposition.

[WASHING - the visitor is advised to check the charges for washing]


BOOT AND SHOE CLEANING. - CLOTHES BRUSHING

This is often a bone of contention in lodgings, the people of the house generally trying to put them upon the poor over-worked servant, by whom they are sure to be wretchedly done, while you are charged a price that ought to ensure a superior polish; 6d. a day or 3s. 6d. a week for boot cleaning and clothes brushing is what they generally try for, but 2d. for boots and 1d. for shoes is the right thing. A prudent man will brush his own coat rather than let it descend to mop up slops in the area, and be brought back "nicely folded," which is generally all that is done. In bachelor's lodgings, boot cleaning &., is very well managed by men who do for the inmates of a certain number of houses. It is the family lodging letters that always make the trouble and declare there is no one to get...............it would be a good speculation for green-grocers (who are mostly old servants) to combine the business of valets. They should proclaim it in their windows, for the lodging letters would never let it be known.

PLATE

Plate is generally a purely imaginary article in London lodgings. take up a dozen or two of forks and spoons with you, and be sure you take them back.

................People...... in general, do not like lodging-house hospitality; and you had better make any return for what you receive by inviting your hosts to visit you in the country, the railways affording to them the same facility of getting at you, that they do you of getting at them. That is the true reciprocity system.

RENT.

First, or drawing-room floors, are always the most expensive; though there is often little to choose in absolute comfort between a first floor and a second. Many people object to a second floor in lodgings, who think nothing of climbing up to a third-floor in a fashionable hotel.

Remember, if you have noisy people in the house, it is better to have them below you than above. A second-floor is preferable to the parlours or ground floor, as you have better air and less noise and dust.
Whatever rooms you take, it may be well to stipulate that things are to remain as they are; or, on taking possession, you may find that the ornaments have taken flight, and druggets and chintzes covering the attractive carpets and chairs.

As there is always a final fight about dilapidation, it may mitigate the severity of the engagement, if, on entering, you point out the cracks, stains, and repairs. We have heard of a skilfully mended, skilfully cushioned easy-chair that was a regular annuity to a lodging-house keeper - each fresh occupant of the rooms breaking it down almost immediately.

If the lodging-house people ask you for a reference on taking, it gives you an opportunity of asking to see their last half-year's rent and tax receipts, which will secure you against Doe & Roe taking liberties with your wardrobe. The deposit of a sovereign answers every purpose of a reference - though a cab-load of luggage is as good as either.

 
TERM OF TAKING

It is not advisable to take lodgings for more than a week certain, though by taking them for a longer time you may get them a little cheaper. The best plan is to engage them with liberty to leave at the end of the week; but if you continue - say for a month - to have them at something less. Reduce the bargain to writing as well as you can, and get the party to sign it.
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Forthwith write your new address in your pocket-book, so that, if you get your pocket picked, you may have a chance of getting the book at least back.

ENTERING.

We will now suppose you have effected an entry - got your trunks unpacked and your hands washed with a piece of your own old Windsor soap, instead of a piece of gingerbread-looking lodging-house stuff, charged at fifty per cent. profit, which leads us to say that the bane of lodgings is that the majority of letters want a profit upon everything you have - bread, meat, fish, cheese, butter, milk, vegetables, and will often change or spoil articles that are supplied by other than their own pliant tradespeople. The best plan is to specify, when you take the lodgings, that you mean to be supplied by your own tradesmen, and if there is any demur about it, have nothing to do with the lodgings.

Locking things up with lodging-house keys is quite a work of supererogation. the best plan is to convert a good strong railway box of your own into a temporary store-room.
..............

Anticipating your departure, we may here say that it is usual to give the poor servants of the house something, and it is desirable to give it to them personally. they are generally terribly worked, and wretchedly paid. The amount must depend upon the length of time you have been there, the trouble you have given, and the disposition they have shown to oblige. Any master or mistress can judge what they can get such a servant for by the year, and calculate accordingly.