Underground Journal

History of the Silver Cross Prams Company

Silver Cross is Britain’s oldest pram company, making prams and pushchairs for children since 1877. The company is based in Leeds, Yorkshire where the very first Silver Cross pram was produced by William Wilson – a postman who started his own business making post carts and perambulators.

The Victorian era is when the pram first came into popular use. Original prams were based on the same designs as full-sized carriages and were originally pulled by dogs or ponies. Wealthy families commissioned their carriage makers to make smaller vehicles for their babies and owning a pram was soon seen as a status symbol. Queen Victoria herself was famous for using prams and there was even a pram named after her that remained one of the most popular models for over fifty years.

In the 1920’s the Silver Cross company sealed its reputation as a maker of quality prams when they produced a baby carriage for the royal family. The Silver Cross name became synonymous with quality and rich parents bought the latest model of Silver Cross pram for their children.

The brand continued to strengthen with new models produced every year and became somewhat of a fashion statement in the 60s for trendy mothers. During this time the Silver Cross company also extended their range into highchairs and other nursery furniture.

In the 60s the company also started to produce miniature versions of their full-size prams for children. You could now own your very own Silver Cross doll’s pram just like mother’s!

As technology improved, the designs of Silver Cross prams evolved to meet the needs of modern parents. Prams produced and sold today are lightweight and flexible and there are a range of models to suit every mother – twin prams, jogging prams, you name it – Silver Cross continues to be one of the most popular producers of prams in the UK.

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