The Road Through Harpenden

by Chris Reynolds

 

Repairs Needed

While the road between St Albans and Harpenden was a turnpike this did not stop complaints about how it was maintained.

CORRESPONDENCE - Sir. Permit me through the columns of your Journal to call the attention of the Surveyors of the Highway of the Parish of Sandridge to the want of a fence at Bernard’s Heath, on the road leading from St Albans to Harpenden. I may also mention that the middle of the road, instead of being the highest part of it, is the lowest. H

The Herts Advertiser 15th January 1859

Bad State of the Harpenden Road. – Our attention has been directed to the bad state in which the road between St Albans and Harpenden is kept. A gentleman, who drove over the ground one day this week, says that stones and brickbats, nearly as large as his chaise lamps, were being thrown on the road. Surely, with a sixpenny gate between the two places, the road should be properly mended, and not allowed to be in the dangerous condition described to us.

The Herts Advertiser 2nd November 1861

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For some information about how road repairs were carried out in the 18th century see Regulating weights of carriages

If you can add to the information given above please tell me.