A1-The Great North Road
A remarkable little volume by Tom Bradley (he of Old Coaching Days) entitled Jackson's Cyclist's Guide To Yorkshire and published at the turn of the 19th century when the sport of cycling was at its peak and the motor car still a rich man's experiment, gives some valuable details on the state of the roads. Railways had been established for half a century and the long distance stage coach was long gone. Goods transport over any distance was by rail and canals were passed their heyday but the roads were busier than ever with horse traffic. Apart from a couple of minor experiments there was still no tar on the roads so the condition of the road surface was of critical interest to the cyclist.
Here Bradley describes the Great North Road between Bawtry and York via Tadcaster.
Surface.—The principal streets within the city of York are mostly wood pavement, which has a very smooth, even surface, free from holes, the blocks in many cases being laid diagonally, which makes it very good going. Some of the streets, however, are paved with cobbles, granite, and random sets, which in places are very bad. The Market-place is paved with both cobbles and granite. The wood pavement starts, on this route, on leaving the Market-place, and runs to Micklegate Bar, outside which the limestone macadam starts, and runs right away. Tram lines from Ouse Bridge to Bar. The length of road from York to Tadcaster is generally bad, on account of the ruts made by the brewers' carts. After leaving Tadcaster, it is a fairly good limestone road, though hilly, and in some places somewhat confined, right away to Red House, from which place the road is extra good right away to the county boundary, the piece from Doncaster to Bawtry being really first class.
It is a similar story as we head north from Bootham Bar on the Thirsk road:
Surface.—Paving in York Market-place; wood pavement along Church Street and Petergate to Bootham Bar, very good. Outside the Bar there is a short piece of granite pavement, then the limestone macadam starts and runs the whole length of the road. The surface of this road is generally good throughout its entire length, especially from Northallerton to Darlington. There is scarcely a bad place in it. Thirsk is paved with cobbles, but they are confined to the town.
Lincolnshire
©Biff Vernon 2005