Governess cart
A governess cart, governess car or tub cart is a two-wheeled horse-drawn cart pulled by a single horse or pony, with a tub-shaped body entered from the rear and two longitudinal seats. It was a common way for a governess to transport small children. Tub carts are similar to the "inside jaunting car".
Design
The governess cart's distinguishing feature is a tub-shaped body which is made of basketwork, varnished wood or painted wood. There are two longitudinal seats—the passengers facing each other—and a small door in the rear with an exterior low step to enter or exit. The entry and seating arrangement is similar to that of a wagonette. The driver sits sideways in the right-hand rear corner, and there is usually a cutout of the bench seat as allowance for the knees of the driver as they try to sit facing somewhat forward.The vehicle has a dropped axle and the shafts for a single horse are attached low on the body, both features contributing to a low centre of gravity. They can be fitted with wheels of different sizes to accommodate small ponies up to large horses. There is usually a fender which helps keep water and mud from flinging up onto the passengers and helps to keep children from reaching the wheels. The body is usually mounted on elliptical springs, though other spring systems have also been used.
Variations
The governess cart is also called a governess car or tub cart, though the tub cart usually refers to the larger and heavier vehicles. Other regional names for the same vehicle have included Avondale in the US, Digby in northeast England, and Jingle in southwest England.Some tub carts don't have a rear door, but instead an open doorway. A few are headed. A Princess car has a governess cart body, but is entered from the front. A Beverley car is an unvarnished wood square-sided version, instead of having rounded corners. Some four-wheeled vehicles have been mistakenly called governess carts, either because their bodies were tub-shaped or made of basketwork.