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Bridge and Halifax； between Wakefield and Dewsbury； between
Wakefield and Doncaster； between Wakefield； Huddersfield； and
Saddleworth （the Manchester road）； between Standish and Thurston
Clough； between Huddersfield and Highmoor； between Huddersfield and
Halifax； and between Knaresborough and Wetherby。
In Lancashire also； Metcalf made a large extent of roads； which
were of the greatest importance in opening up the resources of that
county。 Previous to their construction； almost the only means of
communication between districts was by horse…tracks and mill…roads；
of sufficient width to enable a laden horse to pass along them with
a pack of goods or a sack of corn slung across its back。 Metcalf's
principal roads in Lancashire were those constructed by him between
Bury and Blackburn； with a branch to Accrington； between Bury and
Haslingden； and between Haslingden and Accrington； with a branch to
Blackburn。 He also made some highly important main roads
connecting Yorkshire and Lancashire with each other at many parts：
as； for instance； those between Skipton； Colne； and Burnley； and
between Docklane Head and Ashton…under…Lyne。 The roads from Ashton
to Stockport and from Stockport to Mottram Langdale were also his
work。
Our road…maker was also extensively employed in the same way in the
counties of Cheshire and Derby； constructing the roads between
Macclesfield and Chapel…le…Frith； between Whaley and Buxton；
between Congleton and the Red Bull （entering Staffordshire）； and in
various other directions。 The total mileage of the turnpike…roads
thus constructed was about one hundred and eighty miles； for which
Metcalf received in all about sixty…five thousand pounds。
The making of these roads also involved the building of many bridges；
retaining…walls； and culverts。 We believe it was generally
admitted of the works constructed by Metcalf that they well stood
the test of time and use； and； with a degree of justifiable pride；
he was afterwards accustomed to point to his bridges； when others
were tumbling during floods； and boast that none of his had fallen。
This extraordinary man not only made the highways which were
designed for him by other surveyors； but himself personally
surveyed and laid out many of the most important roads which he
constructed； in difficult and mountainous parts of Yorkshire and
Lancashire。 One who personally knew Metcalf thus wrote of him
during his life…time：。 〃With the assistance only of a long staff；
I have several times met this man traversing the roads； ascending
steep and rugged heights； exploring valleys and investigating their
several extents； forms； and situations； so as to answer his designs
in the best manner。 The plans which he makes； and the estimates he
prepares； are done in a method peculiar to himself； and of which he
cannot well convey the meaning to others。 His abilities in this
respect are； nevertheless； so great that he finds constant
employment。 Most of the roads over the Peak in Derbyshire have
been altered by his directions； particularly those in the vicinity
of Buxton； and he is at this time constructing a new one betwixt
Wilmslow and Congleton； to open a communication with the great
London road； without being obliged to pass over the mountains。
I have met this blind projector while engaged in making his survey。
He was alone as usual； and； amongst other conversation； I made some
inquiries respecting this new road。 It was really astonishing to
hear with what accuracy he described its course and the nature of
the different soils through which it was conducted。 Having
mentioned to him a boggy piece of ground it passed through； he
observed that 'that was the only place he had doubts concerning；
and that he was apprehensive they had； contrary to his directions；
been too sparing of their materials。'〃*＇1＇
Metcalf's skill in constructing his roads over boggy ground was
very great； and the following may be cited as an instance。 When
the high…road from Huddersfield to Manchester was determined on；
he agreed to make it at so much a rood； though at that time the
line had not been marked out。 When this was done； Metcalf； to his
dismay； found that the surveyor had laid it out across some deep
marshy ground on Pule and Standish Commons。 On this he
expostulated with the trustees； alleging the much greater expense
that he must necessarily incur in carrying out the work after their
surveyor's plan。 They told him； however； that if he succeeded in
making a complete road to their satisfaction； he should not be a
loser； but they pointed out that； according to their surveyor's
views； it would be requisite for him to dig out the bog until he
came to a solid bottom。 Metcalf； on making his calculations； found
that in that case he would have to dig a trench some nine feet deep
and fourteen yards broad on the average； making about two hundred
and ninety…four solid yards of bog in every rood； to be excavated
and carried away。 This； he naturally conceived； would have proved
both tedious as well as costly； and； after all； the road would in
wet weather have been no better than a broad ditch； and in winter
liable to be blocked up with snow。 He strongly represented this
view to the trustees as well as the surveyor； but they were
immovable。 It was； therefore； necessary for him to surmount the
difficulty in some other way； though he remained firm in his
resolution not to adopt the plan proposed by the surveyor。
After much cogitation he appeared again before the trustees；
and made this proposal to them： that he should make the road
across the marshes after his own plan； and then； if it should be
found not to answer； he would be at the expense of making it over
again after the surveyor's proposed method。 This was agreed to；
and as he had undertaken to make nine miles of the road within ten
months； he immediately set to work with all despatch。
Nearly four hundred men were employed upon the work at six
different points； and their first operation was to cut a deep ditch
along either side of the intended road； and throw the excavated
stuff inwards so as to raise it to a circular form。 His greatest
difficulty was in getting the stones laid to make the drains； there
being no firm footing for a horse in the more boggy places。
The Yorkshire clothiers； who passed that way to Huddersfield market
by no means a soft…spoken raceridiculed Metcalf's proceedings；
and declared that he and his men would some day have to be dragged
out of the bog by the hair of their heads！ Undeterred； however；
by sarcasm； he persistently pursued his plan of making the road
practicable for laden vehicles； but he strictly enjoined his men
for the present to keep his manner of proceeding； a secret。
His plan was this。 He ordered heather and ling to be pulled from
the adjacent ground； and after binding it together in little round
bundles； which could be grasped with the hand； these bundles were
placed close together in rows in the direction of the line of road；
after which other similar bundles were placed transversely over
them； and when all had been pressed well down； stone and gravel
were led on in broad…wheeled waggons； and spread over the bundles；
so as to make a firm and level way。 When the first load was
brought and laid on； and the horses reached the firm ground again
in safety； loud cheers were set up by the persons who had assembled
in the expectation of seeing both horses and waggons disappear in
the bog。 The whole length was finished in like manner； and it
proved one of the best； and even the driest； parts of the road；
standing in very little need of repair for nearly twelve years
after its construction。 The plan adopted by Metcalf； we need
scarcely point out； was precisely similar to that afterwards
adopted by George Stephenson； under like circumstances； when
constructing the railway across Chat Moss。 It consisted simply in a
large extension