The Life of Thomas Telford | Page 3

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This etext produced by Eric Hutton, email: [email protected]
additional proof reading by David G Haren and Simon Allen

The Life of Thomas Telford civil engineer with an introductory history
of roads and travelling in Great Britian
by Samuel Smiles

"Let us travel, and wherever we find no facility for travelling from a
city to a town, from a village to a hamlet, we may pronounce the people
to be barbarous" --Abbe Raynal
"The opening up of the internal communications of a country is
undoubtedly the first and most important element of its growth in
commerce and civilization" --Richard Cobden
CONTENTS
Preface

EARLY ROADS AND MODES OF TRAVELLING
CHAPTER I.
Old Roads
Roads as agents of civilization Their important uses Ancient British
trackways or ridgeways The Romans and their roads in Britain Decay
of the Roman roads Early legislation relating to highways Roads near
London The Weald of Kent Great Western roads Hollow ways or lanes
Roads on Dartmoor in Sussex at Kensington
CHAPTER II.
Early Modes of Conveyance
Riding on horseback the ancient mode of traveling Shakespear's
description of travelling in 'Henry IV.' Queen Elizabeth and her coach
Introduction of coaches or waggons Painful journeys by coach Carriers
in reign of James I Great north Road in reign of Charles I Mace's
description of roads and travellers stage-coaches introduced Sobriere's
account of the Dover stage-coach Thoresby's account of stage-coaches
and travelling Roads and travelling in North Wales Proposal to suppres
stage-coaches Tediousness and discomforts of travelling by coach
Pennant's account of the Chester and London stage Travelling on
horseback preferred The night coach Highway robbers and foot-pads
Methods of transport of the merchandize pack-horse convoys Traffic
between lancashire and Yorkshire Signs of the pack-horse
CHAPTER III.
Influence of Roads on Society
Restricted intercourse between districts Local dialects and customs
thereby preserved Camden's fear of travelling into the barbarous
regions of the North Rev. Mr Brome's travels in England Old Leisure
Imperfect postal communication Hawkers and pedlars Laying in stores

for winter Household occupations Great fairs of ancient times Local
fairs Fair on Dartmoor Primitive manners of Dartmoor District
CHAPTER IV.
Roads in Scotland last centuary
Poverty of Scotland Backwardness of agriculture Idleness of the people
Andrew Flecher's description of Scotland Slavery of colliers and salters
Improvements in agriculture opposed Low wages of the labouring
population State of the Lothians and Ayrshire Wretched states of the
roads Difficulty of communication between districts Coach started
between Edinburgh and Glasgow Carrier's perils between Edinburgh
and Selkirk Dangers of travelling in Galloway Lawlessness of the
Highlands Picking and lifting of cattle Ferocity of population on the
Highland Border Ancient civilization of Scotland
CHAPTER V.
Travelling in England last century
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
CHAPTER VI.
John Metcalf, road-maker.
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
THE LIFE OF THOMAS TELFORD
CHAPTER I.
Eskdale.
Eskdale Langholm Former lawlessness of the Border population Jonnie
armstrong Border energy Westerkirk Telford's birthplace Glendinning
Valley of the Meggat The 'unblameable shepherd' Telford's mother
Early years Laughing Tam Put to school His school-fellows
CHAPTER II.
Langholm--Telford a Stonemason
Telford apprenticed to a stonemason Runs away Re-apprenticed to a
mason at Langholm Building operations in the district Miss