Stagecoach sighting in central London

If you think that Wells Fargo Stagecoaches have nothing to do with the City of London, then think again. Renter Warden David Barrett spotted one whilst heading to Fishmongers’ Hall recently. Wells Fargo Capital Finance has a new office at 33 King William Street on the approach to London Bridge, and there in the ground floor reception on full display to the public is one of its magnificent stagecoaches, a replica of the original design and one of many that are on display at its head offices around the world.

It was in 1852 that Henry Wells and William Fargo founded Wells, Fargo & Co to serve the west coast of America. The new company offered the service of banking by buying gold and selling paper bank drafts in exchange. They also introduced express rapid delivery services of gold and other valuable goods, hence the need for stagecoaches bearing the company name. No wonder they were frequently held up robbed in so many old ‘cowboy’ western films.

Wells Fargo & Co., based in San Francisco, still owns and displays 10 of its original stagecoaches in history museums across the US. There are also 13 reproduction stagecoaches in the bank’s offices, with a fleet of 17 that are used almost every weekend in parades and events across the nation.

Our coachmaking expert, Junior Warden Mark Broadbent, advises us that this American design is known as the Concorde Coach. Built specifically for Wells Fargo as an overland stage to manage travel over rough ground and unmade roads, it is not nearly as refined as the English coaches of the period.

Mark believes the City showroom coach is a reproduction made by a firm in Poland called Mendyka which mass produces carriages of a certain quality, which are rather heavily built and lack the finer details. It is very apt that they should build the Concorde coach, as there were a large number of these examples made. Is it possible that we will see this City-based stagecoach in a future Lord Mayor’s Show? Do take a look at this magnificent example of 19th century express transport when next in the City.