TRANSPORT in the 18 th & 19 th Century Roads

Road Transport in the 18 th C. No-one had built proper roads since Roman times. Roads were just muddy dirt tracks which flooded in winter and formed ruts in summer. Road travel was very slow, dangerous and expensive. Packhorses were used because carts got stuck. It was better to take bulky or heavy goods by sea or by river.

The Statute for Mending the Highways 1555 A law was passed to try to improve the roads. It stated that the local villagers had to repair the roads. Poorer men had to give up six days labour to work on the roads – unpaid. Richer villagers were expected to provide materials.

Failure of Statute Labour The Parish system of Statute Labour failed because :- The men were not paid They had no skills They resented the job The local magistrates did not enforce the law

Turnpike Trusts These were businesses set up by local landowners and factory owners. The Trust applied to Parliament for permission to take over a stretch of road. A Turnpike Act gave the Trust the right to put up a toll gate and charge travellers to use their stretch of road. A Toll Keeper was employed and lived in a Toll House next to the Toll Gate

Advantages and Disadvantages of Turnpikes Advantages Hundreds of miles of good roads were built Most towns were connected by good roads Road vehicles improved Stage coach and Mail services started up News, business, money, produce and industrial goods could go by road, helping the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions There was work for engineers, toll keepers, Inns and coaches….. Disadvantages Turnpikes were expensive to use They were on average only 10 miles long Lots of stops to pay tolls There was no national system It took decades to complete the routes They were unpopular with local people who sometimes attacked them

The Great Engineers Thomas Telford Built his roads like the Romans with big foundations Cambered his roads and ensured good drainage Famous for the London to Holyhead road and the Menai Suspension Bridge BUT his roads were expensive to build Also famous for canals

John Loudon Macadam The most important road builder Much cheaper method made him popular with Turnpike Trusts Did not use large foundations like Telford Ensured the ground was firm and well drained Then built smooth, cambered surface To this day a good road is said to be “Macadamised”

Cross-section of Telford and McAdam Roads

Other Famous Road Builders General George Wade Built military roads into the Scottish Highlands Roads built in 1720s Roads built to allow army access to the remote Highlands where rebel Jacobite clans could hide These clans had risen in rebellion in 1715 Wade’s road helped to suppress them Blind Jack Metcalfe (of Knaresborough) Built roads in North of England Used camber and drainage Famous for intuition e.g. felt old Roman road under ground! Famous for innovative use of local materials e.g. used heather to help drainage.