88 History of Inland Transport 



a Coach three Pence, a Cart four Pence, at some six Pence to 

 eight Pence, a Waggon six Pence, in some a Shilling, and the 

 like ; Cattle pay by the Score, or by the Head, in some Places 

 more, in some less." Several of these turnpikes had been set 

 up of late years and " great Progress had been made in mending 

 the most difficult Ways." 



On these roads toll was, of course, being taken by authority 

 of Act of Parliament ; but there was one road, at least, on 

 which tolls were being enforced without Parliamentary 

 sanction ; for Defoe goes on to say : 



" There is another Road, which is a Branch of the Northern 

 Road, and is properly called the Coach Road . . . and this 

 indeed is a most frightful Way, if we take it from Hatfield, 

 or rather the Park Corners of Hatfield House, and from thence 

 to Stevenage, to Baldock, to Biggies wade and Bugden. Here 

 is that famous Lane call'd Baldock Lane, famous for being 

 so impassable that the Coaches and Travellers were oblig'd 

 to break out of the Way even by Force, which the People of 

 the Country not able to prevent, at length placed Gates and 

 laid their lands open, setting men at the Gates to take a 

 voluntary Toll, which Travellers always chose to pay, rather 

 than plunge into Sloughs and Holes, which no Horse could 

 wade through. 



" This terrible Road is now under Cure by the same Methods, 

 and probably may in Time be brought to be firm and solid." 



In regard to the turnpike system in general he says : 



" The Benefit of these Turnpikes appears now to be so great, 

 and the People in all Places begin to be so sensible of it, 

 that it is incredible what Effect it has already had upon 

 Trade in the Counties where the Roads are completely finished ; 

 even the Carriage of Goods is abated, in some Places, 6d. 

 per hundred Weight, in others I2d. per hundred, which is 

 abundantly more Advantageous to Commerce than the 

 Charge paid amounts to. ... 



" Besides the benefits accruing from this laudable Method 

 we may add, The Conveniency to those who bring fat Cattle, 

 especially Sheep, to London in the Winter from the remoter 

 counties of Leicester and Lincoln, where they are bred : For 

 before, the Country Graziers were obliged to sell their Stocks 

 off in September and October when the Roads began to be 

 bad, and when they generally sell cheap ; and the Butchers 



