A new historic and contemporary display of prams, pushchairs and baby items related to carrying and caring for infants is on display at the Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth, until 13 April 2010. Mary Turner Lewis – Collection Care Officer at the Ceredigion Museum – will be giving a talk about the display at 1:00 pm on Friday 26 March 2010, at the Ceredigion Museum, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth. There is no charge for admission to the talk.
Ceredigion Museum staff have been exploring the museum’s collection of historic and contemporary objects to discover the ways in which people carry infants. The new temporary exhibition includes examples of both old and new ways of transporting little ones. So, if you have ever pushed a Silver Cross pram or been stuck trying to fold up an umbrella type aluminium contraption, then do come and see what has been included in the new ‘Bringing up Baby’ exhibition.
Some of the earliest examples in the Ceredigion Museum collection resemble small carts. Made from metal, wood, leather and often hand painted these unique child carriages could only be afforded by the very wealthy. Royalty and nobility commissioned coach builders to produce carriers and the work was sometimes given to apprentices to show off and practise their skills.
Mary Turner Lewis, has been working on the display and described some of the early items, “The heavy and cumbersome early cart-like pushchairs must have been very difficult to handle. It is not surprising that they were replaced by lighter and safer prams.”
Many of the earliest examples were one-offs and it is not until the middle of the Victorian period that manufacturers started to produce a range of prams. Models were often given a name with a royal connection such as Princess, Duchess, Balmoral or Windsor.
The Duke of Devonshire, in 1773, was one of the first people to commission a designer to produce a child carrier. William Kent, a garden designer, produced a suitable carriage constructed in the shape of a shell made from basket work on iron wheels. This structure was pulled along by a goat!
By 1840, baby carriages were more popular and, since roads and pavements were being developed, it was possible to push a pram along a fairly even street surface. The early perambulators had no suspension and metal wheels. Towns which had parks and well kept gardens were particularly popular for pushing babies in prams. It was still the wealthy, however, and those who could afford to have nannies and maids, who usually had these items.
Various coach companies began to produce perambulators but it was not until the 1900s that major design changes came about. With a new way of living came a new design for carrying babies. With both World Wars came new ideas and rapid changes to the way people lived and moved around the country. This was the age of the car.
The question as to whether or not it is best for a child to face the person pushing the pram is still causing debate. Mary Turner Lewis explained: ‘It is an on-going argument. For many years people have been researching whether it is better for an infant to be facing the person pushing the pram or whether it would be best for the toddler to be able to look out and see other things. It would be interesting to know what visitors to the exhibition think.”
As well as prams and carriers there are also shawls and body carriers on display. Many poorer people would have their babies close to them at all times, carrying them to work held tight on their backs. Mary Turner Lewis commented, “It is interesting to see how, from the earliest times, people have carried babies wrapped close to their bodies and still do, whether this is in front or behind their bodies. Again, this occurs across the globe and various styles of wrapping and techniques of holding the babies securely are traditionally devised.
“Welsh women are often seen in paintings and photographs with babies wrapped in shawls held close to their bodies and we find women from all societies carrying their babies in similar ways. It is interesting to see how they wrap the cloth and secure the baby. The most precious bundle in the world must be held securely!”
Mary Turner Lewis will be giving a talk about the display at 1:00 pm on Friday 26 March 2010, at the Ceredigion Museum, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth. There is no charge for admission.
