9 November 2007
Coach of history rolls on as City of London gives the oldest
“runner” in the world its 250-year MoT – for £1/2 million (plus
labour)
Today (November 9) the City of London Corporation faced an MoT
bill of £1/2 million (plus labour) to keep the world’s oldest
regularly used vehicle on the road – and appearing as the star
attraction in the annual Lord Mayor’s Show.
With its next outing tomorrow at 11.00am when it takes the new
Lord Mayor David Lewis from Guildhall to the Royal Courts of
Justice and back, the golden State Coach will clock up 250 years –
and the mechanics have warned it needs a major overhaul.
The 680th Lord Mayor David Lewis said: “The coach weighs over
two tons and pulled by six shire horses. Although it’s very
eye-catching - and carbon-friendly - I probably won’t be using it
for trips to the supermarket. Apart from anything else it takes 20
minutes to park and has a brake that is a work of mystery.”
Built for the 1757 Lord Mayor’s Show, the State Coach has been
valued at “multiples of millions” and has had one careful owner,
the City of London Corporation. It had a brake fitted only in 1951
and has six shire horses because only HM the Queen can have
eight.
Pauline Halliday, the Chief Commoner of the City of London
Corporation that looks after the Square Mile business district
chairs the committee of elected 'Common Councilmen' that
recommended the works.
She said: “The Lord Mayor’s State Coach is unique: it’s both an
historic monument and working vehicle that, quite frankly, simply
must not break down. Apart from anything else, millions watch the
Show on TV around the world and roadside assistance is not an
option.
“The possibility of a replica was out of the question and we
would still have to look after the State Coach as it is an
important exhibit in the Museum of London. “
Under the seven year phased renovation (which will not stop the
State Coach being used every year in the Lord Mayor’s Show on the
second Saturday of November), the wooden and iron frame will be
repaired, the gilded carvings restored and hand-painted exterior
panels renovated. New lights for the inside will cost £10,000 and
repairing the brakes c£20,000. The estimated cost of the
works in 2007 prices are c.£425,000 plus staff costs. A further
c.£250,000 will be spent on the upkeep of 19th century coaches also
used in the Show.
Ends
Notes for editors
The City of London Corporation, whose annually elected head is
the Lord Mayor, provides local government services for the Square
Mile, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, and is
committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business
City as the world's leading international financial and business
centre through its policies and services. The Lord Mayor and
the elected Chairman of Policy and Resources both sit on the
Chancellor’s High Level Group for the Financial Services and the
Lord Mayor spends three months a year leading business delegations
to developing overseas markets to forge links with the City and the
UK-based financial services
The City of London’ Corporation’s responsibilities also extend
far beyond the City boundaries and include management of the
Barbican Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000
acres of open space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
three wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port
Health Authority.