Chapter V Travelling in England Last Century
CHAPTER VI. John Metcalf, road-maker
Progress made in travelling by coach
Fast coaches established
Bad state of the roads
Foreigners’ accounts of travelling in England
Herr Moritz’s journey by the basket coach
Arthur Young’s description of English roads
Palmer’s mail coaches introduced
The first ‘Turnpike’ roads
Turnpike riots
The rebellion of 1745
Passing of numerous highway Acts
Road-making thought beneath the dignity of the engineer
Metcalf’s boyhood
His blindness
His boldness
Becomes a Musician
His travels
Journey on foot from London to Harrogate
Joins the army as musician in the rebellion of 1745
Adventures in Scotland
Becomes travelling merchant and horse dealer
Begins road-making
Builds a bridge
His extensive road contracts in Yorkshire and Lancashire
Manner of aking his surveys
His skill in road-making
His last road—his death
Roads in the south of England
Want of roads on Lincoln Heath
Land lighthouses
Dunstan pillar
Rapid improvement in the roads
Application of steam
Sydney Smith on improved facilities of communication