Stagecoaches on Christmas Cards Stagecoaches are often seen on Christmas cards. Typically they show a stagecoach charging along a snowy road, or a mail-coach bringing the town’s Christmas cards.
History A stagecoach was a horse-drawn luxury carriage - so called because it travelled in stages. As well as stops, there were coaching inns, where the horses would be changed, and travellers could have a meal or drink. On longer journeys they might stay overnight. Old coaching inns in Amersham, Chesham and other towns can still be recognised by their archways, which allowed the coach and horses to pass through into the stable yard behind. When the stagecoach returned by the same route they would swap horses with the original ones. Prices varied: richer passengers could pay more to sit inside the coach, or you could pay less to sit atop the coach.