THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD, 99 



Bath to Marlborough, and 74^ on to London. They 

 dined both up and down at Mrs. Botham's, the " Pelican," 

 at Speenham Land or Newbury, and out of London break- 

 fasted at Botham's, the "Windmill," at Salt Hill. They 

 left both ends at 7 a.m. and did the journey under eleven 

 hours — about ten and a half hours. The " York House " 

 struggled on even after the Great Western Railroad was 

 opened, running to Haylane near Wotton Bassett. After 

 it was knocked off the road, that first-rate coachman, 

 Sprorson, set up a coach from Devizes to Reading, 

 and earned his living. He stuck to it as long as 

 he could, and always had the goodwill of his neigh- 

 bours and passengers. Sprorson and Adlam are still 

 alive, the former is managing a club at Leeds or Brad- 

 ford.' 



Shackell's coaches to Reading were well patronised. 

 On the Exeter road, besides the ' Quicksilver,' or 

 Devonport mail, and the ' Telegraph,' ran the ' Exeter 

 Subscription,' from the ' Bull and Mouth,' and the 

 'Cornet.' Also the 'Herald,' a day coach from the 

 'Saracen's Head,' Snow Hill. 



The old and light Salisbury coaches did well on this 

 road, and so did Monk's coach to Basingstoke. 



In 1836 the fastest coaches (known as the crack 

 coaches) were those running between 



London and Brighton, 51 J miles in 5^ hours. 



,, Shrewsbury, 154 miles in 15 hours. 



„ Exeter, 171 miles in 17 hours. 



,, Manchester, 187 miles in 19 hours. 



,, Holyhead, 261 miles in 26 hrs. 55 mins. 



H 2 



