*

When the Romans had, by conquest, extended their possessions throughout Britain, they made, for military purposes, roads in a direct line from one military station to another. But for a long time the native roads or trackways were used. The one from Verulam, over the River Lea, by Waltham into Essex must have been at high tides impassable and, therefore, very inconvenient, and often from floods impassable for many days; whilst the road by Bishop Stortford into Essex would be open for traffic at all times. It is not therefore surprising that they gave the preference to the road through Hallingbury, Dunmow, &c., which they made a perfectly straight road, now known as Stane Way. But, nevertheless, the road through Epping Uplands seems to have been, for some time after the country was occupied by the Romans, a road of importance, as the settlements, which they formed of South Germans, having their names terminating in "ing" have been placed either on, or near to it, viz., Epping, Nasing, Sherring, Matching. In the title-deeds of property situated on it, it is termed "King's Highway from Ryehill to Waltham." The King's Highway was free to all men, leading either to the market or from town to town; or any cart, horse, or foot-way common to all people is the King's Highway, whether it directly leads to any market town or not. It was evidently once a highway, although now only a grass road, and thrown out of use as a highway, owing to other roads having been gravelled and made passable.

* Stane Way, see Map of the Roman Roads.

† See "Parish Law," by Joseph Shaw, 1743, pages 261 and 262.

17

CHAPTER II.

ABSTRACTS OF ACTS OF PARLIAMENT, AND OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THEM.

DURING the greater part of the 17th century the country was in a very unsettled state, brought about by many causes. The rapid political changes and the devastating civil war left but little opportunity for attention being given to matters domestic or parochial. Amongst these must be included roads.

There can be no doubt, the movements of troops during the war between King Charles and the Parliament, brought the state of the roads, in all parts of the country, under the notice of those who were leaders in the contests. It can readily be believed the soldiers suffered greatly; and that the fatigues experienced during the long marches they had to make, brought the condition of the highways they traversed painfully before them. It is not, therefore, surprising that in 1655 a Turnpike Act was passed.

There had been, by an Act passed 2 and 3 of Philip and Mary, a local office created, that of surveyor of highways. The appointment of the surveyor was to be made by the Justices of the Peace; he was to be under their control, and had to carry out their instructions.

The Statute rendered every one liable to contribute towards the repairs of the roads. For this purpose they were divided into two classes :

Ist. Such as occupied a plough land, or kept a draught or plough.

2nd.— Householders, cottagers, and labourers, not hired servants by the year.

Those of the first class were required, each of them, to send, four times in a year, one wain or cart, with oxen, horses,

C

or other cattle, and two men, or to forfeit for every draught making default, 10s.

Those of the second class were required, by himself or his substitute, to work on such days, in mending the highway or to forfeit 12d.; every individual of each class was taxed the same without regard being paid to his means.

The Act seemed to be unfair; it was, therefore, altered in the 18th year of Queen Elizabeth's reign by subjecting those cottagers who had 5. in goods or 40s. in land to additional service. They had to send two men instead of one; and the number of days' labour was increased from four to six.

The laws relating to "statute" duty or labour remained in force until the year 1835-6, when they were repealed by Parliament, 5 and 6 William IV, as the work done by Statute labour had shown itself to be insufficient for the purpose for which it was instituted.

In 1653 the first turnpike was erected.

The contributor of the article on roads in the "Penny Cyclopædia" writes as follows:

"The inefficiency of the system of maintenance by parish and statute labour was proved before the passing of the first Turnpike Act in 1653; yet the necessity of improvement, and obvious justice of maintaining roads by the produce of tolls, did not lead to the extensive adoption of the turnpike system for about a century after that time. In the latter half of the last century turnpike roads multiplied rapidly, and superior principles of construction also made some progress."

William and Mary, in the first year of their reign, passed an Act for repairing and amending the road from Harlow Bush Common to Woodford, It did not, however, have the result anticipated.

An Act was passed in the reign of Queen Anne limiting the number of horses allowed for drawing waggons, carts, &c., to six, except up hill. They were to be harnessed in pairs, the two wheel-horses to have a pole between them or to be in double shafts.

In the first year of George I, 1714, there was passed an Act