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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： 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： '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 through the said places； as well as by
reason of the great trade of barley and malt that cometh to Ware；
and so is conveyed by water to the city of London； as well as other
carriages； both from the north parts as also from the city of
Norwich； St。 Edmondsbury； and the town of Cambridge； to London； is
very ruinous； and become almost impassable； insomuch that it is
become very dangerous to all his Majesty's liege people that pass
that way；〃 &c。
*＇10＇ Down to the year 1756； Newcastle and Carlisle were only
connected by a bridle way。 In that year； Marshal Wade employed his
army to construct a road by way of Harlaw and Cholterford；
following for thirty miles the line of the old Roman Wall； the
materials of which he used to construct his 〃agger〃 and culverts。
This was long after known as 〃the military road。〃
*＇11＇ The Blandford waggoner said； 〃Roads had but one objectfor
waggon…driving。 He required but four…foot width in a lane； and all
the rest might go to the devil。〃 He added； 〃The gentry ought to
stay at home； and be dd； and not run gossiping up and down the
country。〃Roberts's 'Social History of the Southern Counties。'
*＇12＇ 'Gentleman's Magazine' for December； 1752。
*＇13＇ Adam Smith's 'Wealth of Nations；' book i。； chap。 xi。； part i。
CHAPTER VI。
JOHN METCALF； ROAD…MAKER。
＇Image＇ Metcalf's birthplace Knaresborough
John Metcalf was born at Knaresborough in 1717； the son of poor
working people。 When only six years old he was seized with
virulent small…pox； which totally destroyed his sight。 The blind
boy； when sufficiently recovered to go abroad； first learnt to
grope from door to door along the walls on either side of his
parents' dwelling。 In about six months he was able to feel his way
to the end of the street and back without a guide； and in three
years he could go on a message to any part of the town。 He grew
strong and healthy； and longed to join in the sports of boys