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which Metcalf was afterwards engaged； extending over a period of
more than thirty years。 By the time that he had finished the road；
the building of a bridge at Boroughbridge was advertised； and
Metcalf sent in his tender with many others。 At the same time he
frankly stated that； though he wished to undertake the work； he had
not before executed anything of the kind。 His tender being on the
whole the most favourable； the trustees sent for Metcalf； and on
his appearing before them； they asked him what he knew of a bridge。
He replied that he could readily describe his plan of the one they
proposed to build； if they would be good enough to write down his
figures。 The span of the arch； 18 feet；〃 said he； 〃being a
semicircle； makes 27： the arch…stones must be a foot deep； which；
if multiplied by 27； will be 486； and the basis will be 72 feet
more。 This for the arch； but it will require good backing； for
which purpose there are proper stones in the old Roman wall at
Aldborough； which may be used for the purpose； if you please to
give directions to that effect。〃 It is doubtful whether the
trustees were able to follow his rapid calculations； but they were
so much struck by his readiness and apparently complete knowledge
of the work he proposed to execute； that they gave him the contract
to build the bridge； and he completed it within the stipulated time
in a satisfactory and workmanlike manner。
He next agreed to make the mile and a half of turnpike…road between
his native town of Knaresborough and Harrogateground with which
he was more than ordinarily familiar。 Walking one day over a
portion of the ground on which the road was to be made； while still
covered with grass； he told the workmen that he thought it differed
from the ground adjoining it； and he directed them to try for stone
or gravel underneath； and； strange to say； not many feet down； the
men came upon the stones of an old Roman causeway； from which he
obtained much valuable material for the making of his new road。
At another part of the contract there was a bog to be crossed； and
the surveyor thought it impossible to make a road over it。 Metcalf
assured him that he could readily accomplish it； on which the other
offered； if he succeeded； to pay him for the straight road the
price which he would have to pay if the road were constructed round
the bog。 Metcalf set to work accordingly； and had a large quantity
of furze and ling laid upon the bog； over which he spread layers of
gravel。 The plan answered effectually； and when the materials had
become consolidated； it proved one of the best parts of the road。
It would be tedious to describe in detail the construction of the
various roads and bridges which Metcalf subsequently executed； but
a brief summary of the more important will suffice。 In Yorkshire；
he made the roads between Harrogate and Harewood Bridge； between
Chapeltown and Leeds； between Broughton and Addingham； between Mill
Bridge and Halifax； between Wakefield and Dewsbury； between
Wakefield and Doncaster； between Wakefield； Huddersfield； and
Saddleworth （the Manchester road）； between Standish and Thurston
Clough； between Huddersfield and Highmoor； between Huddersfield and
Halifax； and between Knaresborough and Wetherby。
In Lancashire also； Metcalf made a large extent of roads； which
were of the greatest importance in opening up the resources of that
county。 Previous to their construction； almost the only means of
communication between districts was by horse…tracks and mill…roads；
of sufficient width to enable a laden horse to pass along them with
a pack of goods or a sack of corn slung across its back。 Metcalf's
principal roads in Lancashire were those constructed by him between
Bury and Blackburn； with a branch to Accrington； between Bury and
Haslingden； and between Haslingden and Accrington； with a branch to
Blackburn。 He also made some highly important main roads
connecting Yorkshire and Lancashire with each other at many parts：
as； for instance； those between Skipton； Colne； and Burnley； and
between Docklane Head and Ashton…under…Lyne。 The roads from Ashton
to Stockport and from Stockport to Mottram Langdale were also his
work。
Our road…maker was also extensively employed in the same way in the
counties of Cheshire and Derby； constructing the roads between
Macclesfield and Chapel…le…Frith； between Whaley and Buxton；
between Congleton and the Red Bull （entering Staffordshire）； and in
various other directions。 The total mileage of the turnpike…roads
thus constructed was about one hundred and eighty miles； for which
Metcalf received in all about sixty…five thousand pounds。
The making of these roads also involved the building of many bridges；
retaining…walls； and culverts。 We believe it was generally
admitted of the works constructed by Metcalf that they well stood
the test of time and use； and； with a degree of justifiable pride；
he was afterwards accustomed to point to his bridges； when others
were tumbling during floods； and boast that none of his had fallen。
This extraordinary man not only made the highways which were
designed for him by other surveyors； but himself personally
surveyed and laid out many of the most important roads which he
constructed； in difficult and mountainous parts of Yorkshire and
Lancashire。 One who personally knew Metcalf thus wrote of him
during his life…time：。 〃With the assistance only of a long staff；
I have several times met this man traversing the roads； ascending
steep and rugged heights； exploring valleys and investigating their
several extents； forms； and situations； so as to answer his designs
in the best manner。 The plans which he makes； and the estimates he
prepares； are done in a method peculiar to himself； and of which he
cannot well convey the meaning to others。 His abilities in this
respect are； nevertheless； so great that he finds constant
employment。 Most of the roads over the Peak in Derbyshire have
been altered by his directions； particularly those in the vicinity
of Buxton； and he is at this time constructing a new one betwixt
Wilmslow and Congleton； to open a communication with the great
London road； without being obliged to pass over the mountains。
I have met this blind projector while engaged in making his survey。
He was alone as usual； and； amongst other conversation； I made some
inquiries respecting this new road。 It was really astonishing to
hear with what accuracy he described its course and the nature of
the different soils through which it was conducted。 Having
mentioned to him a boggy piece of ground it passed through； he
observed that 'that was the only place he had doubts concerning；
and that he was apprehensive they had； contrary to his directions；
been too sparing of their materials。'〃*＇1＇
Metcalf's skill in constructing his roads over boggy ground was
very great； and the following may be cited as an instance。 When
the high…road from Huddersfield to Manchester was determined on；
he agreed to make it at so much a rood； though at that time the
line had not been marked out。 When this was done； Metcalf； to his
dismay； found that the surveyor had laid it out across some deep
marshy ground on Pule and Standish Commons。 On this he
expostulated with the trustees； alleging the much greater expense
that he must necessarily incur in carrying out the work after their
surveyor's plan。 They told him； however； that if he succeeded in
making a complete road to their satisfaction； he should not be a
loser； but they pointed out that； according to their surveyor's
views； it would be requisite for him to dig out the bog until he
came to a solid bottom。 Metcalf； on making his calculations； found
that in that case he would have to dig a trench some nine feet deep
and fourteen yards broad on the average； making about two hundred
and ninety…four solid yards of bog in every rood； to be excavated
and carried away。 This； he naturally conceived； would have proved
both tedious as well as costly； and； after all； the road would in
wet weather have been no better than a broad ditch； and in winter
liable to be blocked up with snow。 He strongly represented this
view to the trustees as well as the surveyor； but they were
immovable。 It was； therefore； necessary for him to surmount the
difficulty in some other way； though he remained firm in his
resolution not to adopt the plan proposed by the surveyor。
After much cogitation he appeared again before the trustees；
and made this proposal to them： that he should make the road
across the marshes after his own plan； and then； if it should be
found not to answer； he would be at the expense of making it over
again after the surveyor's proposed method。 This was agreed to；
and as he had undertaken to make nine miles of the road within ten
months； he immediately set to work with all despatch。
Nearly four hundred men were employed upon the wor