1908: Vanderbilt reenacts the coaching days

A scene outside the Kings Head, South Street c1908. Created with AI by LiveMemory™

In 1908 Alfred Vanderbilt, an American millionaire, came to England bringing with him 80 of his horses in order to re-create the atmosphere of the old coaching days before the railways took away much of the trade in the 1840s. On 4 May 1908, he made a trial run of the journey from London to Brighton in 'Meteor' with himself driving. Subsequent regular trips were made in the 'Venture'. The experience lasted up to six hours on the road with four passengers inside and eleven outside.

Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Sr (1877-1915)

This was not a strictly commercial service and was deliberately priced to keep the general public away. These journeys were essentially a jolly day out for the gentry.

Vanderbilt died on 7 May 1915 on the RMS Lusitania sunk by a torpedo fired by a German U-boat off the coast of County Cork.

For the full story of Vanderbilt's exploits check out: https://www.horleyhistory.org.uk/alfred-vanderbilt-and-his-stagecoach/

The video was created from a still photograph animated by MyHeritage LiveMemory™. The AI process has made some assumptions during its creation (for example the appearance of the  side of the coach). But it gives us a remarkably realistic impression of this memorable day when Vanderbilt passed through Cuckfield. All we need is the addition of sound, and maybe colourise it - all of which is possible with some of these AI services.

Contributed by Malcolm Davison.