The sociable carriage, which is being conserved at MOSI.

Over one hundred years after Joseph Cockshoot and Co, rolled their sociable carriage on to the cobbled streets of Manchester in 1895, the Museum of Science and Industry aims to restore the carriage for display in their Air and Space Hall.

The carriage is one of the last surviving carriages made before the motor car became the main form of transport on our streets.

“The sociable carriage is a fascinating example of the end of an era in road transport, and it is an exciting challenge to help conserve it for future generations,” said Fran Clarke, a conserver at the MOSI.

“We aim to improve the overall condition of the carriage, making it stable again and ensure this important piece of transport history, made by a Manchester company, will be preserved.”

The carriage needs a lot of TLC to bring it back to its original condition. Courtesy MOSI

The carriage was acquired from Tolson Museum in Huddersfield and requires extensive conservation work to stop deterioration of the canopy, leatherwork, frame and brass fittings.

Sociable carriages were so called because four passengers were able to sit face to face on two seat benches under a canopy while the coach driver had his own bench.

“When we acquired the carriage,” Fran Clarke added. “the fabric had been badly damaged by moths and other insects, the metalwork was partly corroded, and paint layers were flaking.”

Museum conservators will use a variety of specialist conservation methods in order to restore the carriage to its original condition

Fran Clarke and her colleague Kirsten Emperle will be carrying out the sociable carriage conservation project in Air and Space Hall. The public will able to watch them work and the conservators will be happy to speak to visitors about the project.