the¡¡Great¡¡North¡¡Road¡¡between¡¡London¡¡and¡¡York£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡authorised¡¡the
new¡¡¡¡toll¡bars¡¡to¡¡be¡¡erected¡¡at¡¡Wade's¡¡Mill¡¡in¡¡Hertfordshire£»¡¡at
Caxton¡¡in¡¡Cambridgeshire£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡Stilton¡¡in¡¡Huntingdonshire¡£*£§9£§
The¡¡Act¡¡was¡¡not¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡any¡¡others¡¡for¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡century£»
and¡¡even¡¡after¡¡that¡¡lapse¡¡of¡¡time¡¡such¡¡Acts¡¡as¡¡were¡¡passed¡¡of¡¡a
similar¡¡character¡¡were¡¡very¡¡few¡¡and¡¡far¡¡between¡£
For¡¡nearly¡¡a¡¡century¡¡more£»¡¡travellers¡¡from¡¡Edinburgh¡¡to¡¡London¡¡met
with¡¡no¡¡turnpikes¡¡until¡¡within¡¡about¡¡110¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡metropolis¡£
North¡¡of¡¡that¡¡point¡¡there¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡narrow¡¡causeway¡¡fit¡¡for
pack¡horses£»¡¡flanked¡¡with¡¡clay¡¡sloughs¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is£»
however£»¡¡stated¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Duke¡¡of¡¡Cumberland¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Earl¡¡of
Albemarle£»¡¡when¡¡on¡¡their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Scotland¡¡in¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rebels
in¡¡1746£»¡¡did¡¡contrive¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡Durham¡¡in¡¡a¡¡coach¡¡and¡¡six£»¡¡but¡¡there
the¡¡roads¡¡were¡¡found¡¡so¡¡wretched£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡under¡¡the
necessity¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡to¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡George¡¡Bowes£»¡¡the¡¡county
member£»¡¡made¡¡His¡¡Royal¡¡Highness¡¡a¡¡present¡¡of¡¡his¡¡nag¡¡to¡¡enable¡¡him
to¡¡proceed¡¡on¡¡his¡¡journey¡£¡¡The¡¡roads¡¡west¡¡of¡¡Newcastle¡¡were¡¡so¡¡bad£»
that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡year¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡forces¡¡under¡¡General¡¡Wade£»
which¡¡left¡¡Newcastle¡¡for¡¡Carlisle¡¡to¡¡intercept¡¡the¡¡Pretender¡¡and
his¡¡army£»¡¡halted¡¡the¡¡first¡¡night¡¡at¡¡Ovingham£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡second¡¡at
Hexham£»¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡travel¡¡only¡¡twenty¡¡miles¡¡in¡¡two¡¡days¡£*£§10£§
The¡¡rebellion¡¡of¡¡1745¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡great¡¡impulse¡¡to¡¡the¡¡construction¡¡of
roads¡¡for¡¡military¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡civil¡¡purposes¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡nimble
Highlanders£»¡¡without¡¡baggage¡¡or¡¡waggons£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡the
border¡¡and¡¡penetrate¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡England¡¡before¡¡any
definite¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡their¡¡proceedings¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the
kingdom¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡metropolis¡¡itself¡¡little¡¡information¡¡could¡¡be
obtained¡¡of¡¡the¡¡movements¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rebel¡¡army¡¡for¡¡several¡¡days¡¡after
they¡¡had¡¡left¡¡Edinburgh¡£¡¡¡¡Light¡¡of¡¡foot£»¡¡they¡¡outstripped¡¡the
cavalry¡¡and¡¡artillery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡army£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡delayed¡¡at¡¡all
points¡¡by¡¡impassable¡¡roads¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡sooner£»¡¡however£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡rebellion
put¡¡down£»¡¡than¡¡Government¡¡directed¡¡its¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡best¡¡means
of¡¡securing¡¡the¡¡permanent¡¡subordination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Highlands£»¡¡and¡¡with
this¡¡object¡¡the¡¡construction¡¡of¡¡good¡¡highways¡¡was¡¡declared¡¡to¡¡be
indispensable¡£¡¡The¡¡expediency¡¡of¡¡opening¡¡up¡¡the¡¡communication
between¡¡the¡¡capital¡¡and¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡towns¡¡of¡¡Scotland¡¡was¡¡also
generally¡¡admitted£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡though¡¡slowly£»¡¡the
construction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡main¡¡high¡¡routes¡¡between¡¡north¡¡and¡¡south¡¡made
steady¡¡progress¡£
The¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡the¡¡turnpike¡¡system£»¡¡however£»¡¡encountered¡¡violent
opposition¡¡from¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡being¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡a¡¡grievous¡¡tax¡¡upon
their¡¡freedom¡¡of¡¡movement¡¡from¡¡place¡¡to¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡Armed¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡men
assembled¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡turnpikes£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡burnt¡¡down¡¡the
toll¡houses¡¡and¡¡blew¡¡up¡¡the¡¡posts¡¡with¡¡gunpowder¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡resistance
was¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡in¡¡Yorkshire£»¡¡along¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡North
Road¡¡towards¡¡Scotland£»¡¡though¡¡riots¡¡also¡¡took¡¡place¡¡in
Somersetshire¡¡and¡¡Gloucestershire£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡immediate
neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡London¡£¡¡One¡¡fine¡¡May¡¡morning£»¡¡at¡¡Selby£»¡¡in
Yorkshire£»¡¡the¡¡public¡¡bellman¡¡summoned¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡to¡¡assemble
with¡¡their¡¡hatchets¡¡and¡¡axes¡¡that¡¡night¡¡at¡¡midnight£»¡¡and¡¡cut¡¡down
the¡¡turnpikes¡¡erected¡¡by¡¡Act¡¡of¡¡Parliament£»¡¡nor¡¡were¡¡they¡¡slow¡¡to
act¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡summons¡£¡¡¡¡Soldiers¡¡were¡¡then¡¡sent¡¡into¡¡the¡¡district¡¡to
protect¡¡the¡¡toll¡bars¡¡and¡¡the¡¡toll¡takers£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡was¡¡a¡¡difficult
matter£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡toll¡gates¡¡were¡¡numerous£»¡¡and¡¡wherever¡¡a¡¡¡¨pike¡¨¡¡was
left¡¡unprotected¡¡at¡¡night£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡found¡¡destroyed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡£
The¡¡Yeadon¡¡and¡¡Otley¡¡mobs£»¡¡near¡¡Leeds£»¡¡were¡¡especially¡¡violent¡£¡¡On
the¡¡18th¡¡of¡¡June£»¡¡1753£»¡¡they¡¡made¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡raid¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡turnpikes£»
burning¡¡or¡¡destroying¡¡about¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡in¡¡one¡¡week¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡score¡¡of¡¡the
rioters¡¡were¡¡apprehended£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡on¡¡their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡York¡¡Castle¡¡a
rescue¡¡was¡¡attempted£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡were¡¡under¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of
firing£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡persons¡¡were¡¡killed¡¡and¡¡wounded¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡prejudices
entertained¡¡against¡¡the¡¡turnpikes¡¡were¡¡so¡¡strong£»¡¡that¡¡in¡¡some
places¡¡the¡¡country¡¡people¡¡would¡¡not¡¡even¡¡use¡¡the¡¡improved¡¡roads
after¡¡they¡¡were¡¡made¡£*£§11£§¡¡¡¡For¡¡instance£»¡¡the¡¡driver¡¡of¡¡the
Marlborough¡¡coach¡¡obstinately¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Bath¡¡road£»¡¡but
stuck¡¡to¡¡the¡¡old¡¡waggon¡track£»¡¡called¡¡¡¨Ramsbury¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡an¡¡old
man£»¡¡he¡¡said£º¡¡his¡¡grandfather¡¡and¡¡father¡¡had¡¡driven¡¡the¡¡aforesaid
way¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡continue¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old¡¡track¡¡till
death¡£*£§12£§¡¡¡¡Petitions¡¡were¡¡also¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡Parliament¡¡against
the¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡turnpikes£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡opposition¡¡represented¡¡by¡¡the
petitioners¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡much¡¡less¡¡honest¡¡character¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the
misguided¡¡and¡¡prejudiced¡¡country¡¡folks£»¡¡who¡¡burnt¡¡down¡¡the
toll¡houses¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡principally¡¡got¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡agriculturists¡¡in¡¡the
neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡metropolis£»¡¡who£»¡¡having¡¡secured¡¡the¡¡advantages
which¡¡the¡¡turnpike¡roads¡¡first¡¡constructed¡¡had¡¡conferred¡¡upon¡¡them£»
desired¡¡to¡¡retain¡¡a¡¡monopoly¡¡of¡¡the¡¡improved¡¡means¡¡of
communication¡£¡¡They¡¡alleged¡¡that¡¡if¡¡turnpike¡roads¡¡were¡¡extended
into¡¡the¡¡remoter¡¡counties£»¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡cheapness¡¡of¡¡labour¡¡there
would¡¡enable¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡farmers¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡their¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡corn
cheaper¡¡in¡¡the¡¡London¡¡market¡¡than¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡thus¡¡they
would¡¡be¡¡ruined¡£*£§13£§
This¡¡opposition£»¡¡however£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡turnpike
and¡¡highway¡¡legislation£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡find¡¡that£»¡¡from¡¡l760¡¡to¡¡l774£»¡¡no
fewer¡¡than¡¡four¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡two¡¡Acts¡¡were¡¡passed¡¡for¡¡making
and¡¡repairing¡¡highways¡£¡¡¡¡Nevertheless¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡¡long
continued¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡unsatisfactory¡¡state£»¡¡chiefly¡¡arising¡¡from¡¡the
extremely¡¡imperfect¡¡manner¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡made¡£
Road¡making¡¡as¡¡a¡¡profession¡¡was¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡unknown¡£¡¡¡¡Deviations¡¡were
made¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old¡¡roads¡¡to¡¡make¡¡them¡¡more¡¡easy¡¡and¡¡straight£»¡¡but¡¡the
deep¡¡ruts¡¡were¡¡merely¡¡filled¡¡up¡¡with¡¡any¡¡materials¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡nearest
at¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡stones¡¡taken¡¡from¡¡the¡¡quarry£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡being¡¡broken
and¡¡laid¡¡on¡¡carefully¡¡to¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡depth£»¡¡were¡¡tumbled¡¡down¡¡and
roughly¡¡spread£»¡¡the¡¡country¡¡road¡maker¡¡trusting¡¡to¡¡the¡¡operation¡¡of
cart¡wheels¡¡and¡¡waggons¡¡to¡¡crush¡¡them¡¡into¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡shape¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡of
eminence¡¡as¡¡engineersand¡¡there¡¡were¡¡very¡¡few¡¡such¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time
considered¡¡road¡making¡¡beneath¡¡their¡¡consideration£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡even
thought¡¡singular¡¡that£»¡¡in¡¡1768£»¡¡the¡¡distinguished¡¡Smeaton¡¡should
have¡¡condescended¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡road¡¡across¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Trent£»
between¡¡Markham¡¡and¡¡Newark¡£
The¡¡making¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡roads¡¡was¡¡thus¡¡left¡¡to¡¡such¡¡persons¡¡as¡¡might
choose¡¡to¡¡take¡¡up¡¡the¡¡trade£»¡¡special¡¡skill¡¡not¡¡being¡¡thought¡¡at¡¡all
necessary¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡a¡¡road¡maker¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡only¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡¡that
we¡¡can¡¡account¡¡for¡¡the¡¡remarkable¡¡fact£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡first¡¡extensive
maker¡¡of¡¡roads¡¡who¡¡pursued¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡business£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡an¡¡engineer£»
nor¡¡even¡¡a¡¡mechanic£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡Blind¡¡Man£»¡¡bred¡¡to¡¡no¡¡trade£»¡¡and
possessing¡¡no¡¡experience¡¡whatever¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arts¡¡of¡¡surveying¡¡or
bridge¡building£»¡¡yet¡¡a¡¡man¡¡possessed¡¡of¡¡extraordinary¡¡natural
gifts£»¡¡and¡¡unquestionably¡¡most¡¡successful¡¡as¡¡a¡¡road¡maker¡£
We¡¡allude¡¡to¡¡John¡¡Metcalf£»¡¡commonly¡¡known¡¡as¡¡¡¨Blind¡¡Jack¡¡of
Knaresborough£»¡¨¡¡to¡¡whose¡¡biography£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡constructor¡¡of¡¡nearly
two¡¡hundred¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡capital¡¡roadsas£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡great
English¡¡road¡makerwe¡¡propose¡¡to¡¡devote¡¡the¡¡next¡¡chapter¡£
Footnotes¡¡for¡¡Chapter¡¡V¡£
*£§1£§¡¡Lady¡¡Luxborough£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡Shenstone¡¡the¡¡poet£»¡¡in¡¡1749£»
says£»¡¨A¡¡Birmingham¡¡coach¡¡is¡¡newly¡¡established¡¡to¡¡our¡¡great
emolument¡£¡¡Would¡¡it¡¡not¡¡be¡¡a¡¡good¡¡scheme¡¡£¨this¡¡dirty¡¡weather£»¡¡when
riding¡¡is¡¡no¡¡more¡¡a¡¡pleasure£©¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡come¡¡some¡¡Monday¡¡in¡¡the
said¡¡stage¡coach¡¡from¡¡Birmingham¡¡to¡¡breakfast¡¡at¡¡Barrells£»
£¨for¡¡they¡¡always¡¡breakfast¡¡at¡¡Henley£©£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Saturday¡¡following
it¡¡would¡¡convey¡¡you¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Birmingham£»¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡would¡¡stay¡¡longer£»
which¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡still£»¡¡and¡¡equally¡¡easy£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡goes
every¡¡week¡¡the¡¡same¡¡road¡£¡¡It¡¡breakfasts¡¡at¡¡Henley£»¡¡and¡¡lies¡¡at
Chipping¡¡Horton£»¡¡goes¡¡early¡¡next¡¡day¡¡to¡¡Oxford£»¡¡stays¡¡there¡¡all¡¡day
and¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡gets¡¡on¡¡the¡¡third¡¡day¡¡to¡¡London£»¡¡which¡¡from
Birmingham¡¡at¡¡this¡¡season¡¡is¡¡pretty¡¡well£»¡¡considering¡¡how¡¡long¡¡they
are¡¡at¡¡Oxford£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡much¡¡more¡¡agreeable¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡country¡¡than
the¡¡Warwick¡¡way¡¡was¡£¡¨
*£§2£§¡¡We¡¡may¡¡incidentally¡¡mention¡¡three¡¡other¡¡journeys¡¡south¡¡by
future¡¡Lords¡¡Chancellors¡£¡¡¡¡Mansfield¡¡rode¡¡up¡¡from¡¡Scotland¡¡to
London¡¡when¡¡a¡¡boy£»¡¡taking¡¡two¡¡months¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡on¡¡his¡¡pony¡£
Wedderburn's¡¡journey¡¡by¡¡coach¡¡from¡¡Edinburgh¡¡to¡¡London£»¡¡in¡¡1757£»
occupied¡¡him¡¡six¡¡days¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡I¡¡first¡¡reached¡¡London£»¡¨¡¡said
the¡¡late¡¡Lord¡¡Campbell£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡performed¡¡the¡¡same¡¡journey¡¡in¡¡three
nights¡¡and¡¡two¡¡days£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Palmer's¡¡mail¡coaches¡¡being¡¡then
established£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡swift¡¡travelling¡¡was¡¡considered¡¡dangerous¡¡as
well¡¡as¡¡wonderful£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡gravely¡¡advised¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡a¡¡day¡¡at¡¡York£»
as¡¡several¡¡passengers¡¡who¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡through¡¡without¡¡stopping¡¡had
died¡¡of¡¡apoplexy¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rapidity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡motion£¡¡¨
*£§3£§¡¡C¡£¡¡H¡£¡¡Moritz£º¡¡'Reise¡¡eines¡¡Deutschen¡¡in¡¡England¡¡im¡¡Jahre¡¡1782¡£'
Berlin£»¡¡1783¡£
*£§4£§¡¡Arthur¡¡Young's¡¡'Six¡¡Weeks'¡¡Tour¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Southern¡¡Counties¡¡of
England¡¡and¡¡Wales£»'¡¡2nd¡¡ed¡££»¡¡1769£»¡¡pp¡£¡¡88¡9¡£
*£§5£§¡¡'Six¡¡Weeks¡¡Tour'¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Southern¡¡Counties¡¡of¡¡England¡¡and
Wales£»'¡¡pp¡£¡¡153¡5¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡roads¡¡all¡¡over¡¡South¡¡Wales¡¡were¡¡equally
bad¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present¡¡century¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡Halfway£»¡¡near
Trecastle£»¡¡in¡¡Breconshire£»¡¡South¡¡Wales£»¡¡a¡¡small¡¡obelisk¡¡is¡¡still¡¡to
be¡¡seen£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡erected¡¡to¡¡commemorate¡¡the¡¡turn¡¡over¡¡and
destruction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mail¡¡coach¡¡over¡¡a¡¡steep¡¡of¡¡l30¡¡feet£»¡¡the¡¡driver
and¡¡passengers¡¡escaping¡¡unhurt¡£
*£§6£§¡¡'A¡¡Six¡¡Months'¡¡Tour¡¡through¡¡the¡¡North¡¡of¡¡England£»'¡¡vol¡£¡¡iv¡££»
p¡£¡¡431¡£
*£§7£§¡¡Letter¡¡to¡¡Wyatt£»¡¡October¡¡5th£»¡¡1787£»¡¡MS¡£
*£§8£§¡¡Act¡¡15¡¡Car¡£¡¡II¡££»¡¡c¡£¡¡1¡£
*£§9£§¡¡The¡¡preamble¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Act¡¡recites¡¡that¡¡¡¨The¡¡ancient¡¡highway¡¡and
post¡road¡¡leading¡¡from¡¡London¡¡to¡¡York£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡into¡¡Scotland£»¡¡and
likewise¡¡from¡¡London¡¡into¡¡Lincolnshire£»¡¡lieth¡¡for¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡in¡¡the
counties¡¡of¡¡Hertford£»¡¡Cambridge£»¡¡and¡¡Huntingdon£»¡¡in¡¡many¡¡of¡¡which
places¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡by¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡and¡¡many¡¡loads¡¡which¡¡are
weekly¡¡drawn¡¡in¡¡waggons¡¡throu
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü