¡¶the life of thomas telford¡·

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the life of thomas telford- µÚ50²¿·Ö


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as¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Highlands¡¡above¡¡described¡£¡¡¡¡Through¡¡North¡¡Wales

they¡¡were¡¡rough£»¡¡narrow£»¡¡steep£»¡¡and¡¡unprotected£»¡¡mostly¡¡unfenced£»

and¡¡in¡¡winter¡¡almost¡¡impassable¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡traffic¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road

between¡¡Shrewsbury¡¡and¡¡Bangor¡¡was¡¡conveyed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡small¡¡cart£»¡¡which

passed¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡places¡¡once¡¡a¡¡week¡¡in¡¡summer¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡an

illustration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡in¡¡South¡¡Wales£»¡¡which¡¡were

quite¡¡as¡¡bad¡¡as¡¡those¡¡in¡¡the¡¡North£»¡¡we¡¡may¡¡state¡¡that£»¡¡in¡¡1803£»

when¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Lord¡¡Sudeley¡¡took¡¡home¡¡his¡¡bride¡¡from¡¡the

neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡Welshpool¡¡to¡¡his¡¡residence¡¡only¡¡thirteen¡¡miles

distant£»¡¡the¡¡carriage¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡newly¡¡married¡¡pair¡¡rode¡¡stuck¡¡in

a¡¡quagmire£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡occupants£»¡¡having¡¡extricated¡¡themselves¡¡from

their¡¡perilous¡¡situation£»¡¡performed¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡on

foot¡£



The¡¡first¡¡step¡¡taken¡¡was¡¡to¡¡improve¡¡the¡¡landing¡­places¡¡on¡¡both¡¡the

Irish¡¡and¡¡Welsh¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡George's¡¡Channel£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡this¡¡purpose

Mr¡£¡¡Rennie¡¡was¡¡employed¡¡in¡¡1801¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡result¡¡was£»¡¡that¡¡Howth¡¡on¡¡the

one¡¡coast£»¡¡and¡¡Holyhead¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡were¡¡fixed¡¡upon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡most

eligible¡¡sites¡¡for¡¡packet¡¡stations¡£¡¡¡¡Improvements£»¡¡however£»

proceeded¡¡slowly£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡until¡¡1810¡¡that¡¡a¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡10£»000L¡£

was¡¡granted¡¡by¡¡Parliament¡¡to¡¡enable¡¡the¡¡necessary¡¡works¡¡to¡¡be

begun¡£¡¡¡¡Attention¡¡was¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roads£»

and¡¡here¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford's¡¡services¡¡were¡¡called¡¡into¡¡requisition¡£

As¡¡early¡¡as¡¡1808¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡determined¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Post¡­Office¡¡authorities

to¡¡put¡¡on¡¡a¡¡mail¡­coach¡¡between¡¡Shrewsbury¡¡and¡¡Holyhead£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was

pointed¡¡out¡¡that¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡in¡¡North¡¡Wales¡¡were¡¡so¡¡rough¡¡and

dangerous¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡doubtful¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡service¡¡could¡¡be

conducted¡¡with¡¡safety¡£¡¡¡¡Attempts¡¡were¡¡made¡¡to¡¡enforce¡¡the¡¡law¡¡with

reference¡¡to¡¡their¡¡repair£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡less¡¡than¡¡twenty¡­one¡¡townships

were¡¡indicted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Postmaster¡­General¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡route¡¡was¡¡found¡¡too

perilous¡¡even¡¡for¡¡a¡¡riding¡¡post£»¡¡the¡¡legs¡¡of¡¡three¡¡horses¡¡having

been¡¡broken¡¡in¡¡one¡¡week¡£*£§4£§¡¡¡¡The¡¡road¡¡across¡¡Anglesea¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡as

bad¡£¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡Henry¡¡Parnell¡¡mentioned£»¡¡in¡¡1819£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡coach¡¡had¡¡been

overturned¡¡beyond¡¡Gwynder£»¡¡going¡¡down¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hills£»¡¡when¡¡a

friend¡¡of¡¡his¡¡was¡¡thrown¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡into

a¡¡pool¡¡of¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡Near¡¡the¡¡post¡­office¡¡of¡¡Gwynder£»¡¡the¡¡coachman¡¡had

been¡¡thrown¡¡from¡¡his¡¡seat¡¡by¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡jolt£»¡¡and¡¡broken¡¡his¡¡leg¡£

The¡¡post¡­coach£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡the¡¡mail£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡overturned¡¡at¡¡the

bottom¡¡of¡¡Penmyndd¡¡Hill£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡route¡¡was¡¡so¡¡dangerous¡¡that¡¡the

London¡¡coachmen£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡down¡¡to¡¡¡¨work¡¨¡¡the¡¡country£»

refused¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡because¡¡of¡¡its¡¡excessive¡¡dangers¡£

Of¡¡course£»¡¡anything¡¡like¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡mail¡­service¡¡through¡¡such¡¡a

district¡¡was¡¡altogether¡¡impracticable¡£



The¡¡indictments¡¡of¡¡the¡¡townships¡¡proved¡¡of¡¡no¡¡use£»¡¡the¡¡localities

were¡¡too¡¡poor¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡the¡¡means¡¡required¡¡to¡¡construct¡¡a¡¡line¡¡of

road¡¡sufficient¡¡for¡¡the¡¡conveyance¡¡of¡¡mails¡¡and¡¡passengers¡¡between

England¡¡and¡¡Ireland¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡work¡¡was¡¡really¡¡a¡¡national¡¡one£»¡¡to¡¡be

carried¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡national¡¡cost¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡was¡¡this¡¡best¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£¿

Telford¡¡recommended¡¡that¡¡the¡¡old¡¡road¡¡between¡¡Shrewsbury¡¡and

Holyhead¡¡£¨109¡¡miles¡¡long£©¡¡should¡¡be¡¡shortened¡¡by¡¡about¡¡four¡¡miles£»

and¡¡made¡¡as¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡on¡¡a¡¡level£»¡¡the¡¡new¡¡line¡¡proceeding

from¡¡Shrewsbury¡¡by¡¡Llangollen£»¡¡Corwen£»¡¡Bettws¡­y¡­Coed£»¡¡Capel¡­Curig£»

and¡¡Bangor£»¡¡to¡¡Holyhead¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡also¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡the

Menai¡¡Strait¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cast¡¡iron¡¡bridge£»¡¡hereafter¡¡to¡¡be

described¡£



Although¡¡a¡¡complete¡¡survey¡¡was¡¡made¡¡in¡¡1811£»¡¡nothing¡¡was¡¡done¡¡for

several¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mail¡­coaches¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡be¡¡overturned£»¡¡and

stage¡­coaches£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tourist¡¡season£»¡¡to¡¡break¡¡down¡¡as¡¡before¡£*£§5£§

The¡¡Irish¡¡mail¡­coach¡¡took¡¡forty¡¡one¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡Holyhead¡¡from

the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡its¡¡setting¡¡out¡¡from¡¡St¡£¡¡Martin's¡­le¡­Grand£»¡¡the¡¡journey

was¡¡performed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rate¡¡of¡¡only¡¡6¡¡3/4¡¡miles¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡the¡¡mail

arriving¡¡in¡¡Dublin¡¡on¡¡the¡¡third¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Irish¡¡members¡¡made¡¡many

complaints¡¡of¡¡the¡¡delay¡¡and¡¡dangers¡¡to¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡exposed¡¡in

travelling¡¡up¡¡to¡¡town¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡although¡¡there¡¡was¡¡much¡¡discussion£»¡¡no

money¡¡was¡¡voted¡¡until¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1815£»¡¡when¡¡Sir¡¡Henry¡¡Parnell

vigorously¡¡took¡¡the¡¡question¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡successfully¡¡carried¡¡it

through¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡Board¡¡of¡¡Parliamentary¡¡Commissioners¡¡was¡¡appointed£»¡¡of

which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡chairman£»¡¡and£»¡¡under¡¡their¡¡direction£»¡¡the¡¡new

Shrewsbury¡¡and¡¡Holyhead¡¡road¡¡was¡¡at¡¡length¡¡commenced¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡to

completion£»¡¡the¡¡works¡¡extending¡¡over¡¡a¡¡period¡¡of¡¡about¡¡fifteen¡¡years¡£

The¡¡same¡¡Commissioners¡¡excrcised¡¡an¡¡authority¡¡over¡¡the¡¡roads

between¡¡London¡¡and¡¡Shrewsbury£»¡¡and¡¡numerous¡¡improvements¡¡were¡¡also

made¡¡in¡¡the¡¡main¡¡line¡¡at¡¡various¡¡points£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of

facilitating¡¡communication¡¡between¡¡London¡¡and¡¡Liverpool¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as

between¡¡London¡¡and¡¡Dublin¡£



The¡¡rugged¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡new¡¡road¡¡passed£»

along¡¡the¡¡slopes¡¡of¡¡rocky¡¡precipices¡¡and¡¡across¡¡inlets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea£»

rendered¡¡it¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡build¡¡many¡¡bridges£»¡¡to¡¡form¡¡many

embankments£»¡¡and¡¡cut¡¡away¡¡long¡¡stretches¡¡of¡¡rock£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to

secure¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡and¡¡commodious¡¡route¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡of¡¡the

Dee£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡west¡¡of¡¡Llangollen£»¡¡was¡¡selected£»¡¡the¡¡road¡¡proceeding

along¡¡the¡¡scarped¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡crossing¡¡from¡¡point¡¡to

point¡¡by¡¡lofty¡¡embankments¡¡where¡¡necessary£»¡¡and£»¡¡taking¡¡into

account¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡acknowledged¡¡that

a¡¡wonderfully¡¡level¡¡road¡¡was¡¡secured¡£¡¡¡¡While¡¡the¡¡gradients¡¡on¡¡the

old¡¡road¡¡had¡¡in¡¡some¡¡cases¡¡been¡¡as¡¡steep¡¡as¡¡1¡¡in¡¡6¡¡1/2£»¡¡passing

along¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡unprotected¡¡precipices£»¡¡the¡¡new¡¡one¡¡was¡¡so¡¡laid

out¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡1¡¡in¡¡20¡¡at¡¡any¡¡part£»¡¡while¡¡it¡¡was¡¡wide

and¡¡well¡¡protected¡¡along¡¡its¡¡whole¡¡extent¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡pursued¡¡the

same¡¡system¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡adopted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Carlisle

and¡¡Glasgow¡¡road£»¡¡as¡¡regards¡¡metalling£»¡¡cross¡­draining£»¡¡and

fence¡­walling£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡purpose¡¡using¡¡schistus£»¡¡or¡¡slate

rubble¡­work£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡sandstone¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡largest¡¡bridges¡¡were¡¡of

iron£»¡¡that¡¡at¡¡Bettws¡­y¡­Coed£»¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Conwaycalled¡¡the¡¡Waterloo

Bridge£»¡¡constructed¡¡in¡¡1815being¡¡a¡¡very¡¡fine¡¡specimen¡¡of

Telford's¡¡iron¡¡bridge¡­work¡£



Those¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡most¡¡dangerous¡¡were

taken¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡first£»¡¡and£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1819£»¡¡the¡¡route¡¡had¡¡been

rendered¡¡comparatively¡¡commodious¡¡and¡¡safe¡£¡¡¡¡Angles¡¡were¡¡cut¡¡off£»

the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡hills¡¡were¡¡blasted¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡several¡¡heavy¡¡embankments

run¡¡out¡¡across¡¡formidable¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡Thus£»¡¡at¡¡Stanley¡¡Sands£»

near¡¡Holyhead£»¡¡an¡¡embankment¡¡was¡¡formed¡¡1300¡¡yards¡¡long¡¡and¡¡16¡¡feet

high£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡width¡¡of¡¡34¡¡feet¡¡at¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¡along¡¡which¡¡the¡¡road¡¡was

laid¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡breadth¡¡at¡¡the¡¡base¡¡was¡¡114¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡both¡¡sides¡¡were

coated¡¡with¡¡rubble¡¡stones£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡protection¡¡against¡¡storms¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡the

adoption¡¡of¡¡this¡¡expedient£»¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡was¡¡saved¡¡in¡¡a

distance¡¡of¡¡six¡¡miles¡£¡¡¡¡Heavy¡¡embankments¡¡were¡¡also¡¡run¡¡out£»¡¡where

bridges¡¡were¡¡thrown¡¡across¡¡chasms¡¡and¡¡ravines£»¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡the

general¡¡level¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡Ty¡­Gwynn¡¡to¡¡Lake¡¡Ogwen£»¡¡the¡¡road¡¡along¡¡the¡¡face

of¡¡the¡¡rugged¡¡hill¡¡and¡¡across¡¡the¡¡river¡¡Ogwen¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡new

made£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡uniform¡¡width¡¡of¡¡28¡¡feet¡¡between¡¡the¡¡parapets£»¡¡with¡¡an

inclination¡¡of¡¡only¡¡1¡¡in¡¡22¡¡in¡¡the¡¡steepest¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡bridge¡¡was

thrown¡¡over¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡chasm¡¡forming¡¡the¡¡channel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ogwen£»¡¡the

embankment¡¡being¡¡carried¡¡forward¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rook¡¡cutting£»¡¡protected

by¡¡high¡¡breastworks¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡Capel¡­Curig¡¡to¡¡near¡¡the¡¡great¡¡waterfall

over¡¡the¡¡river¡¡Lugwy£»¡¡about¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡of¡¡new¡¡road¡¡was¡¡cut£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡still

greater¡¡length¡¡from¡¡Bettws¡¡across¡¡the¡¡river¡¡Conway¡¡and¡¡along¡¡the

face¡¡of¡¡Dinas¡¡Hill¡¡to¡¡Rhyddlanfair£»¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡3¡¡miles£»¡¡its

steepest¡¡descent¡¡being¡¡1¡¡in¡¡22£»¡¡diminishing¡¡to¡¡1¡¡in¡¡45¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡this

improvement£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡difficult¡¡and¡¡dangerous¡¡pass¡¡along¡¡the¡¡route

through¡¡North¡¡Wales¡¡was¡¡rendered¡¡safe¡¡and¡¡commodious¡£



£§Image£§¡¡Road¡¡Descent¡¡near¡¡Betws¡­y¡­Coed¡£



Another¡¡point¡¡of¡¡almost¡¡equal¡¡difficulty¡¡occurred¡¡near¡¡Ty¡­Nant£»

through¡¡the¡¡rocky¡¡pass¡¡of¡¡Glynn¡¡Duffrws£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡road¡¡was

confined¡¡between¡¡steep¡¡rocks¡¡and¡¡rugged¡¡precipices£º¡¡there¡¡the¡¡way

was¡¡widened¡¡and¡¡flattened¡¡by¡¡blasting£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡the

general¡¡level£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡on¡¡eastward¡¡to¡¡Llangollen¡¡and¡¡Chirk£»¡¡where

the¡¡main¡¡Shrewsbury¡¡road¡¡to¡¡London¡¡was¡¡joined¡£*£§6£§



£§Image£§¡¡Road¡¡above¡¡Nant¡¡Frrancon£»¡¡North¡¡Wales¡£



By¡¡means¡¡of¡¡these¡¡admirable¡¡roads¡¡the¡¡traffic¡¡of¡¡North¡¡Wales

continues¡¡to¡¡be¡¡mainly¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡to¡¡this¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡Although¡¡railways

have¡¡superseded¡¡coach¡­roads¡¡in¡¡the¡¡more¡¡level¡¡districts£»¡¡the¡¡hilly

nature¡¡of¡¡Wales¡¡precludes¡¡their¡¡formation¡¡in¡¡that¡¡quarter¡¡to¡¡any

considerable¡¡extent£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡event¡¡of¡¡railways¡¡being

constructed£»¡¡a¡¡large¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡traffic¡¡of¡¡every¡¡country¡¡must

necessarily¡¡continue¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡over¡¡the¡¡old¡¡high¡¡roads¡£¡¡¡¡Without¡¡them

even¡¡railways¡¡would¡¡be¡¡of¡¡comparatively¡¡little¡¡value£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡railway

station¡¡is¡¡of¡¡use¡¡chiefly¡¡because¡¡of¡¡its¡¡easy¡¡accessibility£»¡¡and

thus£»¡¡both¡¡for¡¡passengers¡¡and¡¡merchandise£»¡¡the¡¡common¡¡roads¡¡of¡¡the

country¡¡are¡¡as¡¡useful¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡main¡¡post¡­roads

have¡¡in¡¡a¡¡great¡¡measure¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡be¡¡employed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purposes¡¡for

which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡originally¡¡designed¡£



The¡¡excellence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡constructed¡¡by¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡through¡¡the

formerly¡¡inaccessible¡¡counties¡¡of¡¡North¡¡Wales¡¡was¡¡the¡¡theme¡¡of

general¡¡praise£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡superiority£»¡¡compared¡¡with¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the

richer¡¡and¡¡more¡¡level¡¡districts¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midland¡¡and¡¡western¡¡English

counties£»¡¡becoming¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡public¡¡comment£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡called

upon¡¡to¡¡execute¡¡like¡¡improvements¡¡upon¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡post¡­road

which¡¡extended¡¡between¡¡Shrewsbury¡¡and¡¡the¡¡metropolis¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡careful

survey¡¡was¡¡made¡¡of¡¡the¡¡several¡¡routes¡¡from¡¡London¡¡northward¡¡by

Shrewsbury¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡Liverpool£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡short¡¡line¡¡by¡¡Coventry£»

being¡¡153¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡London¡¡to¡¡Shrewsbury£»¡¡was¡¡selected¡¡as¡¡the¡¡one

to¡¡be¡¡improved¡¡to¡¡the¡¡utmost¡£



Down¡¡to¡¡1819£»¡¡the¡¡road¡¡between¡¡London¡¡and¡¡Coventry¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very

bad¡¡state£»¡¡being¡¡so¡¡laid¡¡as¡¡to¡¡become¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡slough¡¡in¡¡wet

weather¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡many¡¡steep¡¡hills¡¡which¡¡required¡¡to¡¡be¡¡cut¡¡down£»

in¡¡some¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡clay£»¡¡in¡¡others¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡sand¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡mail¡­coach

had¡¡been¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡Banbury£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡r
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