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The famous architect Joseph Hansom was living in Hinckley when, in 1835, he drove the first prototype of his
newly-invented cab along Coventry Road and the Watling Street. Although the later design of the cab was rather
different from Hansom's first attempt, the origins of the 19th century cab were firmly rooted in the Regent Street
workshops. Hansom had a prolific career, designing Birmingham Town Hall, Plymouth Cathedral and many other
churches, convents, schools and mansions; as well as bringing out the first edition of the "Builder" magazine. But
it is for the cab bearing his name that he is best remembered for even though he never received a penny from his
invention. After selling the company, the new owners defaulted on the debt. The present day London cab owes its
origins to the old Thames water men who plied for hire as far back as the Anglo-Saxon times. The right to ply for
hire on the river was granted by Royal Charter in the 12th century. During the reign of Elizabeth I, coaches were
introduced which were drawn by "haquenee" horses. Over the years, the form and number of Hackney carriages
changed. From horse drawn coaches in the 16th century to hansom cabs in the 19th, then the first and one of the
only, electric-powered cabs in 1897. By 1903, when the first motor cabs appeared, there were 11,000 horse-drawn
cabs in London. The last one was licensed in 1947.
These were the first Hackney carriages. In 1643, Oliver Cromwell granted licenses for 200 hackney carriages to ply
for hire in the streets of London. That was the birth of the licensed hackney cab.
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