82 Internal Communication 



waggons, and carriages. The stone was simply thrown 

 on the surface, and the roads were 'then left to manage 

 themselves. Towards the end of that century a change 

 for the better was made in the condition of the roads, 

 and later on Telford and Macadam were appointed to 

 superintend the improvement of our highways. The 

 Highlands of Scotland were opened up by the roads 

 made by General Wade in 1725, and much attention 

 was paid to Irish roads after the potato famine of 1 846. 



View on the Great North road. Codicote village 



Down to quite a recent period many of the roads 

 were kept in repair by means of turnpike tolls, but the 

 whole expense of maintaining our highway system is 

 now in the control of the county and other local 

 authorities. In 1909 a Road Board was formed for 

 the improvement of roads, and the money for this 

 purpose is obtained from duties on motor spirit and 

 part of the duties in respect of carriage licences. 



