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fortunately in time to prevent what would have proved； for the most
part； an unnecessary expenditure； on works soon to be superseded by
a totally different order of things。
The most important road…improvements actually carried out under
Mr。 Telford's immediate superintendence were those on the western
side of the island； with the object of shortening the distance and
facilitating the communication between London and Dublin by way of
Holyhead； as well as between London and Liverpool。 At the time of
the Union； the mode of transit between the capital of Ireland and
the metropolis of the United Kingdom was tedious； difficult； and
full of peril。 In crossing the Irish Sea to Liverpool； the packets
were frequently tossed about for days together。 On the Irish side；
there was scarcely the pretence of a port； the landing…place being
within the bar of the river Liffey； inconvenient at all times； and
in rough weather extremely dangerous。 To avoid the long voyage to
Liverpool； the passage began to be made from Dublin to Holyhead；
the nearest point of the Welsh coast。 Arrived there； the
passengers were landed upon rugged； unprotected rocks； without a
pier or landing convenience of any kind。*＇3＇ But the traveller's
perils were not at an end；comparatively speaking they had only
begun。 From Holyhead； across the island of Anglesea； there was no
made road； but only a miserable track； circuitous and craggy；
full of terrible jolts； round bogs and over rocks； for a distance of
twenty…four miles。 Having reached the Menai Strait； the passengers
had again to take to an open ferry…boat before they could gain the
mainland。 The tide ran with great rapidity through the Strait；
and； when the wind blew strong； the boat was liable to be driven
far up or down the channel； and was sometimes swamped altogether。
The perils of the Welsh roads had next to be encountered； and these
were in as bad a condition at the beginning of the present century
as those of the Highlands above described。 Through North Wales
they were rough； narrow； steep； and unprotected； mostly unfenced；
and in winter almost impassable。 The whole traffic on the road
between Shrewsbury and Bangor was conveyed by a small cart； which
passed between the two places once a week in summer。 As an
illustration of the state of the roads in South Wales； which were
quite as bad as those in the North； we may state that； in 1803；
when the late Lord Sudeley took home his bride from the
neighbourhood of Welshpool to his residence only thirteen miles
distant； the carriage in which the newly married pair rode stuck in
a quagmire； and the occupants； having extricated themselves from
their perilous situation； performed the rest of their journey on
foot。
The first step taken was to improve the landing…places on both the
Irish and Welsh sides of St。 George's Channel； and for this purpose
Mr。 Rennie was employed in 1801。 The result was； that Howth on the
one coast； and Holyhead on the other； were fixed upon as the most
eligible sites for packet stations。 Improvements； however；
proceeded slowly； and it was not until 1810 that a sum of 10；000L。
was granted by Parliament to enable the necessary works to be
begun。 Attention was then turned to the state of the roads；
and here Mr。 Telford's services were called into requisition。
As early as 1808 it had been determined by the Post…Office authorities
to put on a mail…coach between Shrewsbury and Holyhead； but it was
pointed out that the roads in North Wales were so rough and
dangerous that it was doubtful whether the service could be
conducted with safety。 Attempts were made to enforce the law with
reference to their repair； and no less than twenty…one townships
were indicted by the Postmaster…General。 The route was found too
perilous even for a riding post； the legs of three horses having
been broken in one week。*＇4＇ The road across Anglesea was quite as
bad。 Sir Henry Parnell mentioned； in 1819； that the coach had been
overturned beyond Gwynder； going down one of the hills； when a
friend of his was thrown a considerable distance from the roof into
a pool of water。 Near the post…office of Gwynder； the coachman had
been thrown from his seat by a violent jolt； and broken his leg。
The post…coach； and also the mail； had been overturned at the
bottom of Penmyndd Hill； and the route was so dangerous that the
London coachmen； who had been brought down to 〃work〃 the country；
refused to continue the duty because of its excessive dangers。
Of course； anything like a regular mail…service through such a
district was altogether impracticable。
The indictments of the townships proved of no use； the localities
were too poor to provide the means required to construct a line of
road sufficient for the conveyance of mails and passengers between
England and Ireland。 The work was really a national one； to be
carried out at the national cost。 How was this best to be done？
Telford recommended that the old road between Shrewsbury and
Holyhead （109 miles long） should be shortened by about four miles；
and made as nearly as possible on a level； the new line proceeding
from Shrewsbury by Llangollen； Corwen； Bettws…y…Coed； Capel…Curig；
and Bangor； to Holyhead。 Mr。 Telford also proposed to cross the
Menai Strait by means of a cast iron bridge； hereafter to be
described。
Although a complete survey was made in 1811； nothing was done for
several years。 The mail…coaches continued to be overturned； and
stage…coaches； in the tourist season； to break down as before。*＇5＇
The Irish mail…coach took forty one hours to reach Holyhead from
the time of its setting out from St。 Martin's…le…Grand； the journey
was performed at the rate of only 6 3/4 miles an hour； the mail
arriving in Dublin on the third day。 The Irish members made many
complaints of the delay and dangers to which they were exposed in
travelling up to town。 But； although there was much discussion； no
money was voted until the year 1815； when Sir Henry Parnell
vigorously took the question in hand and successfully carried it
through。 A Board of Parliamentary Commissioners was appointed； of
which he was chairman； and； under their direction； the new
Shrewsbury and Holyhead road was at length commenced and carried to
completion； the works extending over a period of about fifteen years。
The same Commissioners excrcised an authority over the roads
between London and Shrewsbury； and numerous improvements were also
made in the main line at various points； with the object of
facilitating communication between London and Liverpool as well as
between London and Dublin。
The rugged nature of the country through which the new road passed；
along the slopes of rocky precipices and across inlets of the sea；
rendered it necessary to build many bridges； to form many
embankments； and cut away long stretches of rock； in order to
secure an easy and commodious route。 The line of the valley of the
Dee； to the west of Llangollen； was selected； the road proceeding
along the scarped sides of the mountains； crossing from point to
point by lofty embankments where necessary； and； taking into
account the character of the country； it must be acknowledged that
a wonderfully level road was secured。 While the gradients on the
old road had in some cases been as steep as 1 in 6 1/2； passing
along the edge of unprotected precipices； the new one was so laid
out as to be no more than 1 in 20 at any part； while it was wide
and well protected along its whole extent。 Mr。 Telford pursued the
same system that he had adopted in the formation of the Carlisle
and Glasgow road； as regards metalling； cross…draining； and
fence…walling； for the latter purpose using schistus； or slate
rubble…work； instead of sandstone。 The largest bridges were of
iron； that at Bettws…y…Coed； over the Conwaycalled the Waterloo
Bridge； constructed in 1815being a very fine specimen of
Telford's iron bridge…work。