The sedan chair first appeared in London for hire in 1634. During the 18th century the private sedan chair was a frequent site in Britain. The sedan chair carried the ladies of Tenby to balls and parties and other social events. In the town they were retained for hire by a tradesman named Cadwallader whose premises were in Lower Frog Street. This chair was presented to the museum in 1896 by Mrs Richards of Croft House. This chair conveyed the bride of one of Tenby's mayors (probably Mrs Richards herself), to church at Haverfordwest to be married in 1872. Mrs Richards, before she married, was Miss Stokes of St Botolphs near Milford Haven so this journey by the sedan chair would have been a distance of about 10 miles for her carriers.
Share this link: