2 THE BRIGHTON ROAD 



Ewell, Leatherhead, Dorking, Horsham, and Mock- 

 bridge (doubtless, bearing in mind the ancient mires 

 of Sussex, originally " Muckbridge "), and was 57\ 

 miles in length. An extension of this route lay from 

 Horsham through Steyning, bringing up the total 

 mileage to sixty-one miles three furlongs. 



This multiplicity of ways meant that, in the variety 

 of winding lanes which led to the Sussex coast, long- 

 before the fisher village of Brighthelmstone became that 

 fashionable resort, Brighton, there were places on the 

 way quite as important to the old waggoners and 

 carriers as anything at the end of the journey. They 

 set out the direction, and roads, when they began to 

 be improved, were often merely the old routes widened, 

 straightened, and metalled. They were kept very 

 largely to the old lines, and it was not until quite late 

 in the history of Brighton that the present " record ' 

 route in its entirety existed at all. 



Among the many isolated roads made or improved, 

 which did not in the beginning contemplate getting 

 to Brighton at all, the pride of place certainly belongs 

 to the ten miles between Reigate and Crawley, 

 originally made as a causeway for horsemen, and 

 guarded by posts, so that wheeled traffic could not 

 pass. This was constructed under the Act 8th 

 William III., 1696, and was the first new road made 

 in Surrey since the time of the Romans. 



It remained as a causeway until 1755, when it was 

 widened and thrown open to all traffic, on paying toll. 

 It was not only the first road to be made, but the last 

 to maintain toll-gates on the way to Brighton, the 

 Reigate Turnpike Trust expiring on the midnight of 

 October 31st, 1881, from which time the Brighton 

 Road became free throughout. 



Meanwhile, the road from London to Croydon was 

 repaired in 1718 ; and at the same time the road from 

 London to Sutton was declared to be " dangerous to 

 all persons, horses, and other cattle," and almost 

 impassable during five months of the year, and was 

 therefore repaired, and toll-gates set up along it. 



