While Lancing Carriage Works opened in 1912, the tradition of carriage building in our area goes back much further. Before Lancing, the "Brighton" (LB&SCR) built its carriages at the Brighton Works (next to Brighton station) starting as early as 1848.
While Lancing Carriage Works opened in 1912, the tradition of carriage building in our area goes back much further. Before Lancing, the "Brighton" (LB&SCR) built its carriages at the Brighton Works (next to Brighton station) starting as early as 1848.
The Method of Construction
When we talk about "skeleton" in terms of construction, it often refers to the underframe.
Early Days (Pre-1880s): Carriages were essentially "all-wooden." The frame, the body, and the wheels were made of timber (often teak or oak).
The "Skeleton" Phase (Late 1800s): As trains got heavier and faster, engineers moved to iron or steel underframes. The "skeleton" was the sturdy metal chassis that did all the work, while the wooden body (the "box" for passengers) was just bolted on top.
The Transition: By the time Lancing opened in 1912, this was the standard. Lancing was built specifically because these new metal-framed carriages were too large and heavy for the old, cramped Brighton Works to handle efficiently.
These could be the designs by William Stroudley (the 1870s/80s) or Robert Billinton (the 1890s). These carriages were being built and maintained at Brighton decades before the first brick was laid at Lancing.
When we talk about "skeleton" in terms of construction, it often refers to the underframe.
Early Days (Pre-1880s): Carriages were essentially "all-wooden." The frame, the body, and the wheels were made of timber (often teak or oak).
The "Skeleton" Phase (Late 1800s): As trains got heavier and faster, engineers moved to iron or steel underframes. The "skeleton" was the sturdy metal chassis that did all the work, while the wooden body (the "box" for passengers) was just bolted on top.
The Transition: By the time Lancing opened in 1912, this was the standard. Lancing was built specifically because these new metal-framed carriages were too large and heavy for the old, cramped Brighton Works to handle efficiently.
The Lancing Connection
Even if the designs were older, Lancing became the "home" for them after 1912. The works didn't just build new stock; they were the primary place for repairing and "re-bodying" those older LB&SCR frames. They would take an old "skeleton" underframe from the 1890s, strip off the worn-out wood, and build a fresh carriage body on top.
In the early 20th century—especially when the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) was clearing out old stock to make room for the modern fleet at Lancing—selling off carriage bodies was a common practice.
The Journey by Horse and Wagon
Since these carriages were being sold without their "skeleton" metal underframes (which the railway kept for scrap or reuse), they were just wooden boxes.
The Logistical Challenge: A standard carriage body was about 26 to 30 feet long. To move one, a local buyer would indeed arrive with a "timber carriage" (a long, adjustable horse-drawn wagon) and a team of heavy horses—usually Shires or Punches.
The Route: They would have trundled out of the Lancing Works gates, likely heading toward Shoreham or along the coast. Because these loads were so wide and top-heavy, it was a slow, precarious journey through the narrow lanes of the time.
Why were they being sold?
When the Lancing Works opened in 1912, they were transitioning to much longer, bogie-mounted carriages. The old 4-wheeled and 6-wheeled "Stroudley" carriages from the 1870s and 80s were considered obsolete.
The Price of a Home: Around 1900–1910, you could buy a redundant carriage body from the LB&SCR for about £10 to £15.
"Bungalow Town": Many of these ended up just a mile or two away at Shoreham Beach. People would buy two or three, set them parallel to each other, and build a roof over the gap to create a "railway bungalow."
Proof of the "Skeleton" Method
Looking closely at the carriage, you can see it is just the wooden body sitting atop a horse-drawn trolley. The heavy iron "skeleton" (the railway underframe and wheels) has been removed, making the body light enough—relatively speaking—to be hauled by those six powerful horses.
Since this photo is dated 1905, these carriages definitely predate the Southern Railway (1923) and even predate the Lancing Carriage Works (1912). This means:
The carriage was almost certainly built at the Brighton Works.
It was likely sold off as surplus "Brighton" (LB&SCR) stock as they began modernising their fleet at the turn of the century.
Sincere thanks to the Lancing history group members: the late John Drewett for the 'saw-tooth' records; Cyril Morris for memories of his father’s trade; Jenny Sampson for the social sparkle; and Clare Verlander for staying true to our geography. The story of the Lancing craftsmen is safe.
- The carriages were likely LB&SCR "Stroudley" 4-wheelers or 6-wheelers.
- They were often sold at the Lancing Carriage Works for as little as £5 to £10.
- The "wrapping" technique was so effective that families lived in them for 50 years without realising they were essentially living in a train.
At first glance, a standard coastal bungalow. But the width and window placement were dictated entirely by the hidden carriages.
The Unseen Strength
Stripped of their seaside cladding, these homes reveal their true identity. It is incredible to see the strength of the Victorian mahogany and teak frames—built by the craftsmen of the Lancing Shops to withstand decades of travel and eighty years of Sussex salt air.
The "Reveal": Underneath the render, the original mahogany panelling emerges. Notice the distinct vertical "beading" and curved mouldings—standard LB&SCR design.
The Smoking Gun: Domestic windows are rectangular, but railway windows have rounded corners to withstand track vibrations. These have been hiding behind curtains for decades.
Internal Ribs: As the demolition vehicle clears the site, you can see the structural ribs that once formed the ceiling of a 1st or 3rd-class compartment.
The Final Departure
There is a sadness in seeing these 'Railway Bungalows' come down. For generations, they were the foundation of a life on the Brighton Road. While the wood may be gone, the story of the community is now firmly on the record.
The Invisible Colony: Full Series
- Part 1: The Hidden Entrance
- Part 1b: The Philip Fry Collection
- Part 2: Lancing At War
- Part 2b: The Secret of the "Hush Hush" Shop
- Part 3: Mr Warr & the Fire Brigade
- Part 4: The Bofors Crew
- Part 4b: The Shingle Skeletons
- Part 5: Precision on the Front Line
- Part 6: Bomb Alley
- Part 7: The Invisible Colony
- Part 8: The Skeletons in the Garden (You are here)
- Part 9: From the 'Running Man' to the 'Rocket Dance'
- Part 10: Denis Edwards
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