Hi, Jo Beverley here, talking about getting around in the past.
I generally send my characters on journeys without too much drama, and I know what sort of speeds they can make, according to how they choose to travel. I find there are equivalents today which make some sense of travel in the past, and I'll share some lower down.
I'm thinking about this now because I my MIP (Masterpiece/mess/monster in progress) demanded that I find out more about curricles.
My hero and heroine set out in one in an urgent journey and I wanted someone to be able to nobble it at a coaching inn. Of course cutting the reins is an obvious one, but I reckon replacement reins or a substitute would be available. So I went into serious research. I found out a lot, including this illustration. It's from an 1880s book, so the fifty years ago puts it in the Regency.
It shows how very fragile a vehicle a curricle usually was. The lined bit above the wheel is the hood that could be raised against weather. The driver's seat, with space for one other, is thereabouts. The seat at the back is for the groom, sometimes called a tiger.
People in the past didn't travel as much as we do today, because travel was difficult and/or expensive, but they didn't always stay at home, either. It was no big deal to walk, even hundreds of miles. I read an autobiography of a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars and when he went home, he walked. When he and his wife moved, they walked. It was completely normal for them. People regularly walked from village to village. Street hawkers in London walked out into the country to get flowers, herbs and such, then walked back into the city to sell them on the streets. All in a day's work.
I don't know for sure, but I assume they walked along the excellent network of public footpaths which still criss-cross England. If necessary they would walk along the quieter roads, but even there traffic would be a problem. I don't suppose they walked the major highways such as the Bath Road, the Brighton Road, or the Great North Road. That would have been as crazy as walking a motorway today. (The equivalent is probably an Interstate highway in the US, and North America generally lacks footpaths away from the roads.)
What other options did they have?
Wagon travel was cheap. It went at walking pace, but was good for those unable to walk long distances, such as children and the elderly. One interesting thing about wagons is that if their wheels were of a specified width or more (consider the wheels in the illustration) they were paid a certain amount per mile by the authorities, because the wide wheels acted like rollers to keep the roads smooth.
Did people who owned horses ride long distances? In general, no. This was
explained to me years ago by someone who asked, "Would you rather travel a hundred miles on a motorbike or in a car?" Some enthusiasts love to travel by motorbike, but even most bike owners would choose car for a long journey.
What about speed? I also thought riding would be faster, but unless there are regular changes of horse along the way, the horse would need plenty of breaks for rest, water and food, and so would the rider. The person in the coach can sleep on the way, but not the rider.
Lastly, there's the point about "luggage." I was also asked, "Do you prefer to carry a suitcase or pull it on wheels?" No contest! The same goes for a horse. It's much more efficient at pulling, even a carriage, than carrying on its back.
So away with the dashing gentleman setting off for Yorkshire on his fiery steed. If he wants to get there quickly, he'll travel by coach. He'll have options. A stage coach would be cheapest, especially if he rides outside. A mail coach, picture on the left) would be faster as it has to keep to its timetable and there's a limit on how many passengers it can take.
If he has money he'll travel post — ie changing horses every ten miles or so, each pair of horses being controlled by postilions. If speed matters, he'll probably hire a light post-chaise along with his first horses, but he could use his own carriage. He's unlikely to use his own horses for any distance because of the problems mentioned above. Horses need rest, water, and food.
He's unlikely to use his curricle. Again, it's dashing but not very practical. The curricle was really a boy-toy, designed for speed on good roads, or for showing off around Town.
In Too Dangerous for a Lady, the hero's friend, Beau Braydon, traveling in a curricle is an eccentricity.
"As Mark passed the rear of a string of inns, he looked for a quiet, out-of-the-way place and settled on the Roebuck. It
was too small to cater to public coaches or to tempt many who traveled in private ones. The only vehicle in sight was
a light sporting curricle, which no one would use for a longjourney, so the owner must be local."
A little while later, Mark gets the surprise. 
“Good thing I’m driving myself,” Braydon said.
“Coach?” Mark asked with surprise.
“Curricle.”
“That was your rig I saw behind the inn? You drove from London in such a vehicle?”
“I’ve discovered I enjoy it now the toll roads are good."
Very eccentric, because my reading told me that true curricles are chancy vehicles. The light structure doesn't tolerate rough roads, and the distinctive curricle pole and harness, with the two horses abreast at the front, apparently doesn't cope well with any sort of uneveness in the road. If the horses are harnessed tightly and close then they can be injured by the pole dipping and juddering; if they're harnessed loosely all sorts of mayhem can ensue.
No wonder Kitty, in The Viscount Needs a Wife, (out soon, in April) was hesitant about traveling from her wedding to her new home in Braydon's curricle.
They left the parsonage on a wave of smiles and good wishes, which Kitty hoped had power.
She halted outside the door. “A curricle?”
The two- wheeled vehicle waited, with a groom at the highbred horses’ heads. The groom was dressed in brown, red, and gold, to match the glossy paintwork. The vehicle looked so delicate, and she thought men mostly used them for racing.
“My luggage?” she asked. That thing looked as if it would be overloaded with three people.
“Has already gone ahead with Henry Oldswick. Do you mind an open carriage?”
“No, but I’ve never traveled in a curricle before.”
“Then I hope you enjoy the experience.” He handed her in, then passed Sillikin up to lie on the coach floor. He walked round and took his seat. “Are you warm enough? There’s a rug if you’d like it.”
“I have my cloak and muff,” she said, pulling the muff down to cover her gloved hands. “I hope we won’t go too
fast.”
“Between here and the Abbey and on a country road?”
What a stupid thing to say. He’d think her an idiot.
In my research I found this useful book from 1796. A Treatise on Carriages: Comprehending Coaches, Chariots, Phaetons, Curricles, Gigs, Whiskies … Together with Their Proper Harness. In which the Fair Prices of Every Article are Accurately Stated, Volume 2. ( Volume 1 doesn't seem to be very informative.) I haven't even begun to get through it, but it lays out details for all types of carriages of the time, in more detail that I care to know. It's rather like a book about cars for the automobile-obsessed. My eyes glaze over! Consider this price list. I don't even know what most of the items are! BTW, a bridoon is a horse's bit: a small snaffle used in double bridles. I just looked that up.
Maybe I'll be back with more when I've worked my way through the book.
Remember, the only reason I went digging so deep was because I needed to know how a curricle worked, and how it could be prevented from working quite simply and quickly, in a way that couldn't easily be fixed.
I found it! probably no one will care but me, but it I needed it to make sense.
You'll have to wait until 2017 to judge for yourself, and the book is as yet untitled.
Author Louise Allen has just added a lovely blog post about carriage accidents to her Jane Austen's London blog. Do check it out.
Do you have any knowledge to add?
Do you prefer the characters simply to get from A to M with as little fuss as possible, rather than have details?
Do you have a favourite traveling incident from a book?
Smooth journeys always!
Jo
I’m just rereading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and I think it is the book – out of all of her books – where there is the most random travelling about the countryside!
I was actually a bit surprised in this read, how they just seem to flit back and forth between their home and the coast. But then the distance isn’t so great.
I’m in the process of doing some research about travel in nineteenth century Australia, and I still can’t come to terms with it! The railway arrived 16 kilometres from here only near the end of the 1800s, so the isolation must have been almost unbearable…
Actually, 16 kilometres isn’t *too* different from the distance Austen’s characters travel between Uppercross and Lyme Regis, but then a car (15 minutes at most – with traffic lights) is different to a carriage!
Oh, and I LOVE the details. When there is none of that detail, then it might as well not be historical romance. I’m sure there’re lots of readers who don’t want as much detail as me, but surely there’s a good balance to reach.
I’m just rereading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and I think it is the book – out of all of her books – where there is the most random travelling about the countryside!
I was actually a bit surprised in this read, how they just seem to flit back and forth between their home and the coast. But then the distance isn’t so great.
I’m in the process of doing some research about travel in nineteenth century Australia, and I still can’t come to terms with it! The railway arrived 16 kilometres from here only near the end of the 1800s, so the isolation must have been almost unbearable…
Actually, 16 kilometres isn’t *too* different from the distance Austen’s characters travel between Uppercross and Lyme Regis, but then a car (15 minutes at most – with traffic lights) is different to a carriage!
Oh, and I LOVE the details. When there is none of that detail, then it might as well not be historical romance. I’m sure there’re lots of readers who don’t want as much detail as me, but surely there’s a good balance to reach.
I’m just rereading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and I think it is the book – out of all of her books – where there is the most random travelling about the countryside!
I was actually a bit surprised in this read, how they just seem to flit back and forth between their home and the coast. But then the distance isn’t so great.
I’m in the process of doing some research about travel in nineteenth century Australia, and I still can’t come to terms with it! The railway arrived 16 kilometres from here only near the end of the 1800s, so the isolation must have been almost unbearable…
Actually, 16 kilometres isn’t *too* different from the distance Austen’s characters travel between Uppercross and Lyme Regis, but then a car (15 minutes at most – with traffic lights) is different to a carriage!
Oh, and I LOVE the details. When there is none of that detail, then it might as well not be historical romance. I’m sure there’re lots of readers who don’t want as much detail as me, but surely there’s a good balance to reach.
I’m just rereading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and I think it is the book – out of all of her books – where there is the most random travelling about the countryside!
I was actually a bit surprised in this read, how they just seem to flit back and forth between their home and the coast. But then the distance isn’t so great.
I’m in the process of doing some research about travel in nineteenth century Australia, and I still can’t come to terms with it! The railway arrived 16 kilometres from here only near the end of the 1800s, so the isolation must have been almost unbearable…
Actually, 16 kilometres isn’t *too* different from the distance Austen’s characters travel between Uppercross and Lyme Regis, but then a car (15 minutes at most – with traffic lights) is different to a carriage!
Oh, and I LOVE the details. When there is none of that detail, then it might as well not be historical romance. I’m sure there’re lots of readers who don’t want as much detail as me, but surely there’s a good balance to reach.
I’m just rereading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and I think it is the book – out of all of her books – where there is the most random travelling about the countryside!
I was actually a bit surprised in this read, how they just seem to flit back and forth between their home and the coast. But then the distance isn’t so great.
I’m in the process of doing some research about travel in nineteenth century Australia, and I still can’t come to terms with it! The railway arrived 16 kilometres from here only near the end of the 1800s, so the isolation must have been almost unbearable…
Actually, 16 kilometres isn’t *too* different from the distance Austen’s characters travel between Uppercross and Lyme Regis, but then a car (15 minutes at most – with traffic lights) is different to a carriage!
Oh, and I LOVE the details. When there is none of that detail, then it might as well not be historical romance. I’m sure there’re lots of readers who don’t want as much detail as me, but surely there’s a good balance to reach.
Yes, Sonya, a short distance was flittable. They probably considered anything that horses could do without stopping as “near by” and a similar distance could well be walkable by many.
Yes, Sonya, a short distance was flittable. They probably considered anything that horses could do without stopping as “near by” and a similar distance could well be walkable by many.
Yes, Sonya, a short distance was flittable. They probably considered anything that horses could do without stopping as “near by” and a similar distance could well be walkable by many.
Yes, Sonya, a short distance was flittable. They probably considered anything that horses could do without stopping as “near by” and a similar distance could well be walkable by many.
Yes, Sonya, a short distance was flittable. They probably considered anything that horses could do without stopping as “near by” and a similar distance could well be walkable by many.
Travel logistics in the 1800s simply make me insane. I have a hard time imagining a posting inn every ten miles for the convenience of the horses. And then what happens on lesser traveled roads? I wouldn’t even want to imagine how one nobbles a curricle! Can’t wait to see how you do it.
Travel logistics in the 1800s simply make me insane. I have a hard time imagining a posting inn every ten miles for the convenience of the horses. And then what happens on lesser traveled roads? I wouldn’t even want to imagine how one nobbles a curricle! Can’t wait to see how you do it.
Travel logistics in the 1800s simply make me insane. I have a hard time imagining a posting inn every ten miles for the convenience of the horses. And then what happens on lesser traveled roads? I wouldn’t even want to imagine how one nobbles a curricle! Can’t wait to see how you do it.
Travel logistics in the 1800s simply make me insane. I have a hard time imagining a posting inn every ten miles for the convenience of the horses. And then what happens on lesser traveled roads? I wouldn’t even want to imagine how one nobbles a curricle! Can’t wait to see how you do it.
Travel logistics in the 1800s simply make me insane. I have a hard time imagining a posting inn every ten miles for the convenience of the horses. And then what happens on lesser traveled roads? I wouldn’t even want to imagine how one nobbles a curricle! Can’t wait to see how you do it.
I’m currently moving characters around in 16 th century Cornwall, where the roads were terrible, but travel time sailing from Boscastle to Bristol or to Lundy Island is just as hard to figure out. It’s no wonder most people back then stayed close to home!
Kathy/Kaitlyn
I’m currently moving characters around in 16 th century Cornwall, where the roads were terrible, but travel time sailing from Boscastle to Bristol or to Lundy Island is just as hard to figure out. It’s no wonder most people back then stayed close to home!
Kathy/Kaitlyn
I’m currently moving characters around in 16 th century Cornwall, where the roads were terrible, but travel time sailing from Boscastle to Bristol or to Lundy Island is just as hard to figure out. It’s no wonder most people back then stayed close to home!
Kathy/Kaitlyn
I’m currently moving characters around in 16 th century Cornwall, where the roads were terrible, but travel time sailing from Boscastle to Bristol or to Lundy Island is just as hard to figure out. It’s no wonder most people back then stayed close to home!
Kathy/Kaitlyn
I’m currently moving characters around in 16 th century Cornwall, where the roads were terrible, but travel time sailing from Boscastle to Bristol or to Lundy Island is just as hard to figure out. It’s no wonder most people back then stayed close to home!
Kathy/Kaitlyn
I read historical novels for enjoyment mostly but also to learn. I love all the details!! The more the merrier. Really enjoy finding out about travel and distance and so on in the books. I too am looking forward to seeing how you ‘nobble’ the curricle.
I read historical novels for enjoyment mostly but also to learn. I love all the details!! The more the merrier. Really enjoy finding out about travel and distance and so on in the books. I too am looking forward to seeing how you ‘nobble’ the curricle.
I read historical novels for enjoyment mostly but also to learn. I love all the details!! The more the merrier. Really enjoy finding out about travel and distance and so on in the books. I too am looking forward to seeing how you ‘nobble’ the curricle.
I read historical novels for enjoyment mostly but also to learn. I love all the details!! The more the merrier. Really enjoy finding out about travel and distance and so on in the books. I too am looking forward to seeing how you ‘nobble’ the curricle.
I read historical novels for enjoyment mostly but also to learn. I love all the details!! The more the merrier. Really enjoy finding out about travel and distance and so on in the books. I too am looking forward to seeing how you ‘nobble’ the curricle.
I’m not sure why the posting inns are a problem, Pat, especially on the main roads. Sort of like gas stations, but needing to be closer. If there’s a business, people will build them. At the end of the posting era the fields around the main toll roads held thousands of horses. There was serious concern about the amount of agricultural land they took up. All saved by the railways.
As for minor roads, I assume as today people raced along the main roads as far as possible, then turned off onto minor toll roads — and there were quite a lot kept in decent condition by local companies through the tolls — and then were prepared for the problems of the last bit of going over the tracks to Grandma’s house, or whatever.
Not that different today in the UK!
I’m not sure why the posting inns are a problem, Pat, especially on the main roads. Sort of like gas stations, but needing to be closer. If there’s a business, people will build them. At the end of the posting era the fields around the main toll roads held thousands of horses. There was serious concern about the amount of agricultural land they took up. All saved by the railways.
As for minor roads, I assume as today people raced along the main roads as far as possible, then turned off onto minor toll roads — and there were quite a lot kept in decent condition by local companies through the tolls — and then were prepared for the problems of the last bit of going over the tracks to Grandma’s house, or whatever.
Not that different today in the UK!
I’m not sure why the posting inns are a problem, Pat, especially on the main roads. Sort of like gas stations, but needing to be closer. If there’s a business, people will build them. At the end of the posting era the fields around the main toll roads held thousands of horses. There was serious concern about the amount of agricultural land they took up. All saved by the railways.
As for minor roads, I assume as today people raced along the main roads as far as possible, then turned off onto minor toll roads — and there were quite a lot kept in decent condition by local companies through the tolls — and then were prepared for the problems of the last bit of going over the tracks to Grandma’s house, or whatever.
Not that different today in the UK!
I’m not sure why the posting inns are a problem, Pat, especially on the main roads. Sort of like gas stations, but needing to be closer. If there’s a business, people will build them. At the end of the posting era the fields around the main toll roads held thousands of horses. There was serious concern about the amount of agricultural land they took up. All saved by the railways.
As for minor roads, I assume as today people raced along the main roads as far as possible, then turned off onto minor toll roads — and there were quite a lot kept in decent condition by local companies through the tolls — and then were prepared for the problems of the last bit of going over the tracks to Grandma’s house, or whatever.
Not that different today in the UK!
I’m not sure why the posting inns are a problem, Pat, especially on the main roads. Sort of like gas stations, but needing to be closer. If there’s a business, people will build them. At the end of the posting era the fields around the main toll roads held thousands of horses. There was serious concern about the amount of agricultural land they took up. All saved by the railways.
As for minor roads, I assume as today people raced along the main roads as far as possible, then turned off onto minor toll roads — and there were quite a lot kept in decent condition by local companies through the tolls — and then were prepared for the problems of the last bit of going over the tracks to Grandma’s house, or whatever.
Not that different today in the UK!
Oh yes, Kathy, roads before the 19th century were pretty bad, and the further back, the worse they were. Plus Cornwall was so remote. I think hardly anyone tried to use wheels. Is that what you’ve found?
Sea travel was always chancy. It could take weeks to sail up the Channel if the winds were against them, and a day if all went well.
I think the Bristol Channel is also known to be tricky with the winds. The nice thing about fictional sea travel is thatwe can choose that it go well, if that suits, or goes badly, if that works for the story.
Oh yes, Kathy, roads before the 19th century were pretty bad, and the further back, the worse they were. Plus Cornwall was so remote. I think hardly anyone tried to use wheels. Is that what you’ve found?
Sea travel was always chancy. It could take weeks to sail up the Channel if the winds were against them, and a day if all went well.
I think the Bristol Channel is also known to be tricky with the winds. The nice thing about fictional sea travel is thatwe can choose that it go well, if that suits, or goes badly, if that works for the story.
Oh yes, Kathy, roads before the 19th century were pretty bad, and the further back, the worse they were. Plus Cornwall was so remote. I think hardly anyone tried to use wheels. Is that what you’ve found?
Sea travel was always chancy. It could take weeks to sail up the Channel if the winds were against them, and a day if all went well.
I think the Bristol Channel is also known to be tricky with the winds. The nice thing about fictional sea travel is thatwe can choose that it go well, if that suits, or goes badly, if that works for the story.
Oh yes, Kathy, roads before the 19th century were pretty bad, and the further back, the worse they were. Plus Cornwall was so remote. I think hardly anyone tried to use wheels. Is that what you’ve found?
Sea travel was always chancy. It could take weeks to sail up the Channel if the winds were against them, and a day if all went well.
I think the Bristol Channel is also known to be tricky with the winds. The nice thing about fictional sea travel is thatwe can choose that it go well, if that suits, or goes badly, if that works for the story.
Oh yes, Kathy, roads before the 19th century were pretty bad, and the further back, the worse they were. Plus Cornwall was so remote. I think hardly anyone tried to use wheels. Is that what you’ve found?
Sea travel was always chancy. It could take weeks to sail up the Channel if the winds were against them, and a day if all went well.
I think the Bristol Channel is also known to be tricky with the winds. The nice thing about fictional sea travel is thatwe can choose that it go well, if that suits, or goes badly, if that works for the story.
Is it worth thinking of travel by packet boat? From my rapid trawl of Wikipedia, I see that the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal (for instance) had been running passenger transport since 1796. On the nearby Bridgewater Canal, passenger traffic for the year 1791 brought in some £3,780.
Is it worth thinking of travel by packet boat? From my rapid trawl of Wikipedia, I see that the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal (for instance) had been running passenger transport since 1796. On the nearby Bridgewater Canal, passenger traffic for the year 1791 brought in some £3,780.
Is it worth thinking of travel by packet boat? From my rapid trawl of Wikipedia, I see that the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal (for instance) had been running passenger transport since 1796. On the nearby Bridgewater Canal, passenger traffic for the year 1791 brought in some £3,780.
Is it worth thinking of travel by packet boat? From my rapid trawl of Wikipedia, I see that the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal (for instance) had been running passenger transport since 1796. On the nearby Bridgewater Canal, passenger traffic for the year 1791 brought in some £3,780.
Is it worth thinking of travel by packet boat? From my rapid trawl of Wikipedia, I see that the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal (for instance) had been running passenger transport since 1796. On the nearby Bridgewater Canal, passenger traffic for the year 1791 brought in some £3,780.
One of my biggest peeves in historical fiction is unrealistic travel. I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner (I didn’t finish it!) I read somewhere that an hour’s travel today was a day in the Regency. It is probably not far off the mark. I love it when authors like you Jo, delve deeply into research and use that to augment the background.
This article on curricles and travel is fascinating.
One of my biggest peeves in historical fiction is unrealistic travel. I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner (I didn’t finish it!) I read somewhere that an hour’s travel today was a day in the Regency. It is probably not far off the mark. I love it when authors like you Jo, delve deeply into research and use that to augment the background.
This article on curricles and travel is fascinating.
One of my biggest peeves in historical fiction is unrealistic travel. I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner (I didn’t finish it!) I read somewhere that an hour’s travel today was a day in the Regency. It is probably not far off the mark. I love it when authors like you Jo, delve deeply into research and use that to augment the background.
This article on curricles and travel is fascinating.
One of my biggest peeves in historical fiction is unrealistic travel. I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner (I didn’t finish it!) I read somewhere that an hour’s travel today was a day in the Regency. It is probably not far off the mark. I love it when authors like you Jo, delve deeply into research and use that to augment the background.
This article on curricles and travel is fascinating.
One of my biggest peeves in historical fiction is unrealistic travel. I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner (I didn’t finish it!) I read somewhere that an hour’s travel today was a day in the Regency. It is probably not far off the mark. I love it when authors like you Jo, delve deeply into research and use that to augment the background.
This article on curricles and travel is fascinating.
If you visit Arlington Court in North Devon you can admire the National Trust Carriage collection. I think a close inspection should reveal possible ways to sabotage a vehicle. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff could certainly assist …. though I wouldn’t say that you want to sabotage a curricle! LOL
If you visit Arlington Court in North Devon you can admire the National Trust Carriage collection. I think a close inspection should reveal possible ways to sabotage a vehicle. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff could certainly assist …. though I wouldn’t say that you want to sabotage a curricle! LOL
If you visit Arlington Court in North Devon you can admire the National Trust Carriage collection. I think a close inspection should reveal possible ways to sabotage a vehicle. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff could certainly assist …. though I wouldn’t say that you want to sabotage a curricle! LOL
If you visit Arlington Court in North Devon you can admire the National Trust Carriage collection. I think a close inspection should reveal possible ways to sabotage a vehicle. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff could certainly assist …. though I wouldn’t say that you want to sabotage a curricle! LOL
If you visit Arlington Court in North Devon you can admire the National Trust Carriage collection. I think a close inspection should reveal possible ways to sabotage a vehicle. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff could certainly assist …. though I wouldn’t say that you want to sabotage a curricle! LOL
Even now, though, depending what country you’re in, things are very different. I’m going to be in some very remote places in less developed countries in April/May/June, and I’ve been there before and know that a one hour-distance trip here is a two or three hour trip there.
In some places the roads are so bad everyone – including buses and trucks – drives on the side of the road rather than on the pothole-ravaged bitumen!
Even now, though, depending what country you’re in, things are very different. I’m going to be in some very remote places in less developed countries in April/May/June, and I’ve been there before and know that a one hour-distance trip here is a two or three hour trip there.
In some places the roads are so bad everyone – including buses and trucks – drives on the side of the road rather than on the pothole-ravaged bitumen!
Even now, though, depending what country you’re in, things are very different. I’m going to be in some very remote places in less developed countries in April/May/June, and I’ve been there before and know that a one hour-distance trip here is a two or three hour trip there.
In some places the roads are so bad everyone – including buses and trucks – drives on the side of the road rather than on the pothole-ravaged bitumen!
Even now, though, depending what country you’re in, things are very different. I’m going to be in some very remote places in less developed countries in April/May/June, and I’ve been there before and know that a one hour-distance trip here is a two or three hour trip there.
In some places the roads are so bad everyone – including buses and trucks – drives on the side of the road rather than on the pothole-ravaged bitumen!
Even now, though, depending what country you’re in, things are very different. I’m going to be in some very remote places in less developed countries in April/May/June, and I’ve been there before and know that a one hour-distance trip here is a two or three hour trip there.
In some places the roads are so bad everyone – including buses and trucks – drives on the side of the road rather than on the pothole-ravaged bitumen!
“I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner”
Seriously?? Even now, that’s a bit of a stretch!
“I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner”
Seriously?? Even now, that’s a bit of a stretch!
“I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner”
Seriously?? Even now, that’s a bit of a stretch!
“I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner”
Seriously?? Even now, that’s a bit of a stretch!
“I once read a book where the hero left London and was in York for dinner”
Seriously?? Even now, that’s a bit of a stretch!
I write in 19th Century America and the idea of travel is compounded by the vast distances. I figure if my characters can walk or march fifteen miles they are doing well. In the wilderness where there were no inns, called stands on the Natchez Trace, they had to stop, build fires and cook something. Add to that the task of caring for horses.
At the beginning of the American Civil War, most soldiers had not been further than thirty miles from their homes. Even families who migrated stayed pretty close to home once they settled. Look at maps of U.S. counties and you get an idea of a round trip to the county seat in one day from almost anywhere in the county.
A wagon was like a truck, for commercial use. Add some boards across the sides and folks had a place to sit. Remember that farm goods had the priority so people walked to market.
I write in 19th Century America and the idea of travel is compounded by the vast distances. I figure if my characters can walk or march fifteen miles they are doing well. In the wilderness where there were no inns, called stands on the Natchez Trace, they had to stop, build fires and cook something. Add to that the task of caring for horses.
At the beginning of the American Civil War, most soldiers had not been further than thirty miles from their homes. Even families who migrated stayed pretty close to home once they settled. Look at maps of U.S. counties and you get an idea of a round trip to the county seat in one day from almost anywhere in the county.
A wagon was like a truck, for commercial use. Add some boards across the sides and folks had a place to sit. Remember that farm goods had the priority so people walked to market.
I write in 19th Century America and the idea of travel is compounded by the vast distances. I figure if my characters can walk or march fifteen miles they are doing well. In the wilderness where there were no inns, called stands on the Natchez Trace, they had to stop, build fires and cook something. Add to that the task of caring for horses.
At the beginning of the American Civil War, most soldiers had not been further than thirty miles from their homes. Even families who migrated stayed pretty close to home once they settled. Look at maps of U.S. counties and you get an idea of a round trip to the county seat in one day from almost anywhere in the county.
A wagon was like a truck, for commercial use. Add some boards across the sides and folks had a place to sit. Remember that farm goods had the priority so people walked to market.
I write in 19th Century America and the idea of travel is compounded by the vast distances. I figure if my characters can walk or march fifteen miles they are doing well. In the wilderness where there were no inns, called stands on the Natchez Trace, they had to stop, build fires and cook something. Add to that the task of caring for horses.
At the beginning of the American Civil War, most soldiers had not been further than thirty miles from their homes. Even families who migrated stayed pretty close to home once they settled. Look at maps of U.S. counties and you get an idea of a round trip to the county seat in one day from almost anywhere in the county.
A wagon was like a truck, for commercial use. Add some boards across the sides and folks had a place to sit. Remember that farm goods had the priority so people walked to market.
I write in 19th Century America and the idea of travel is compounded by the vast distances. I figure if my characters can walk or march fifteen miles they are doing well. In the wilderness where there were no inns, called stands on the Natchez Trace, they had to stop, build fires and cook something. Add to that the task of caring for horses.
At the beginning of the American Civil War, most soldiers had not been further than thirty miles from their homes. Even families who migrated stayed pretty close to home once they settled. Look at maps of U.S. counties and you get an idea of a round trip to the county seat in one day from almost anywhere in the county.
A wagon was like a truck, for commercial use. Add some boards across the sides and folks had a place to sit. Remember that farm goods had the priority so people walked to market.
Good point, Victoria.I neglected water travel. When I was writing Too Dangerous for a Lady I realized that people could travel down the Mersey to the Wirral as an alternative to the roads.
There were canals — and a couple that went back to Roman times. It was slow travel, but a possibility.
Good point, Victoria.I neglected water travel. When I was writing Too Dangerous for a Lady I realized that people could travel down the Mersey to the Wirral as an alternative to the roads.
There were canals — and a couple that went back to Roman times. It was slow travel, but a possibility.
Good point, Victoria.I neglected water travel. When I was writing Too Dangerous for a Lady I realized that people could travel down the Mersey to the Wirral as an alternative to the roads.
There were canals — and a couple that went back to Roman times. It was slow travel, but a possibility.
Good point, Victoria.I neglected water travel. When I was writing Too Dangerous for a Lady I realized that people could travel down the Mersey to the Wirral as an alternative to the roads.
There were canals — and a couple that went back to Roman times. It was slow travel, but a possibility.
Good point, Victoria.I neglected water travel. When I was writing Too Dangerous for a Lady I realized that people could travel down the Mersey to the Wirral as an alternative to the roads.
There were canals — and a couple that went back to Roman times. It was slow travel, but a possibility.
London to York was certainly a trek even when the Great North Road was at its best.
For writers who don’t want to fuss too much about traveling distances, it’s best to keep the action close to one point. If the characters are in London, don’t give them estates in Devon or Cumberland! There was a reason that a lot of the richest people had their country houses near London, even if their ancestral estates were in Scotland.
London to York was certainly a trek even when the Great North Road was at its best.
For writers who don’t want to fuss too much about traveling distances, it’s best to keep the action close to one point. If the characters are in London, don’t give them estates in Devon or Cumberland! There was a reason that a lot of the richest people had their country houses near London, even if their ancestral estates were in Scotland.
London to York was certainly a trek even when the Great North Road was at its best.
For writers who don’t want to fuss too much about traveling distances, it’s best to keep the action close to one point. If the characters are in London, don’t give them estates in Devon or Cumberland! There was a reason that a lot of the richest people had their country houses near London, even if their ancestral estates were in Scotland.
London to York was certainly a trek even when the Great North Road was at its best.
For writers who don’t want to fuss too much about traveling distances, it’s best to keep the action close to one point. If the characters are in London, don’t give them estates in Devon or Cumberland! There was a reason that a lot of the richest people had their country houses near London, even if their ancestral estates were in Scotland.
London to York was certainly a trek even when the Great North Road was at its best.
For writers who don’t want to fuss too much about traveling distances, it’s best to keep the action close to one point. If the characters are in London, don’t give them estates in Devon or Cumberland! There was a reason that a lot of the richest people had their country houses near London, even if their ancestral estates were in Scotland.
I’ve been to Arlington Court, Quantum. It’s a grand collection.
I’ve been to Arlington Court, Quantum. It’s a grand collection.
I’ve been to Arlington Court, Quantum. It’s a grand collection.
I’ve been to Arlington Court, Quantum. It’s a grand collection.
I’ve been to Arlington Court, Quantum. It’s a grand collection.
All true, David. I’ve never written any frontier travel. Well, I did in The Rogue’s Return, when they had to get from York down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, but they did have a river, even if it required portages in places.
All true, David. I’ve never written any frontier travel. Well, I did in The Rogue’s Return, when they had to get from York down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, but they did have a river, even if it required portages in places.
All true, David. I’ve never written any frontier travel. Well, I did in The Rogue’s Return, when they had to get from York down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, but they did have a river, even if it required portages in places.
All true, David. I’ve never written any frontier travel. Well, I did in The Rogue’s Return, when they had to get from York down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, but they did have a river, even if it required portages in places.
All true, David. I’ve never written any frontier travel. Well, I did in The Rogue’s Return, when they had to get from York down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, but they did have a river, even if it required portages in places.
The posting inn problem is mostly in my head–a product of traveling the US more than England. We have vast open spaces and sticking an inn out there every ten miles would have been wasted effort. I just need to make my head accept smaller territory!
The posting inn problem is mostly in my head–a product of traveling the US more than England. We have vast open spaces and sticking an inn out there every ten miles would have been wasted effort. I just need to make my head accept smaller territory!
The posting inn problem is mostly in my head–a product of traveling the US more than England. We have vast open spaces and sticking an inn out there every ten miles would have been wasted effort. I just need to make my head accept smaller territory!
The posting inn problem is mostly in my head–a product of traveling the US more than England. We have vast open spaces and sticking an inn out there every ten miles would have been wasted effort. I just need to make my head accept smaller territory!
The posting inn problem is mostly in my head–a product of traveling the US more than England. We have vast open spaces and sticking an inn out there every ten miles would have been wasted effort. I just need to make my head accept smaller territory!
This makes you ideally suited to writing about 1800s England!
This makes you ideally suited to writing about 1800s England!
This makes you ideally suited to writing about 1800s England!
This makes you ideally suited to writing about 1800s England!
This makes you ideally suited to writing about 1800s England!
I’ve always wondered why there was so little coastal travel and why coaching was preferred when traveling north to south – or south to north – London to Edinburgh – for example. Can you tell us more? Again speaking of Regency or Georgian period.
I’ve always wondered why there was so little coastal travel and why coaching was preferred when traveling north to south – or south to north – London to Edinburgh – for example. Can you tell us more? Again speaking of Regency or Georgian period.
I’ve always wondered why there was so little coastal travel and why coaching was preferred when traveling north to south – or south to north – London to Edinburgh – for example. Can you tell us more? Again speaking of Regency or Georgian period.
I’ve always wondered why there was so little coastal travel and why coaching was preferred when traveling north to south – or south to north – London to Edinburgh – for example. Can you tell us more? Again speaking of Regency or Georgian period.
I’ve always wondered why there was so little coastal travel and why coaching was preferred when traveling north to south – or south to north – London to Edinburgh – for example. Can you tell us more? Again speaking of Regency or Georgian period.
It’s a good question! Sea travel up the east coast through the North Sea can be pretty rough. That way of getting to Scotland became more popular once there were steam ships.
The whole coast of Britain is pretty chancy. Think of the Armada! Travelers arriving at the tip of England, the Lizard, often left their ships at places like Plymouth and carried on by road if the winds in the Channel seemed at all disorderly. Not infrequently sailing ships came to grief trying to get up the Channel to Portsmouth.
The roads might be slow, but most of the time they were safer than the sea.
It’s a good question! Sea travel up the east coast through the North Sea can be pretty rough. That way of getting to Scotland became more popular once there were steam ships.
The whole coast of Britain is pretty chancy. Think of the Armada! Travelers arriving at the tip of England, the Lizard, often left their ships at places like Plymouth and carried on by road if the winds in the Channel seemed at all disorderly. Not infrequently sailing ships came to grief trying to get up the Channel to Portsmouth.
The roads might be slow, but most of the time they were safer than the sea.
It’s a good question! Sea travel up the east coast through the North Sea can be pretty rough. That way of getting to Scotland became more popular once there were steam ships.
The whole coast of Britain is pretty chancy. Think of the Armada! Travelers arriving at the tip of England, the Lizard, often left their ships at places like Plymouth and carried on by road if the winds in the Channel seemed at all disorderly. Not infrequently sailing ships came to grief trying to get up the Channel to Portsmouth.
The roads might be slow, but most of the time they were safer than the sea.
It’s a good question! Sea travel up the east coast through the North Sea can be pretty rough. That way of getting to Scotland became more popular once there were steam ships.
The whole coast of Britain is pretty chancy. Think of the Armada! Travelers arriving at the tip of England, the Lizard, often left their ships at places like Plymouth and carried on by road if the winds in the Channel seemed at all disorderly. Not infrequently sailing ships came to grief trying to get up the Channel to Portsmouth.
The roads might be slow, but most of the time they were safer than the sea.
It’s a good question! Sea travel up the east coast through the North Sea can be pretty rough. That way of getting to Scotland became more popular once there were steam ships.
The whole coast of Britain is pretty chancy. Think of the Armada! Travelers arriving at the tip of England, the Lizard, often left their ships at places like Plymouth and carried on by road if the winds in the Channel seemed at all disorderly. Not infrequently sailing ships came to grief trying to get up the Channel to Portsmouth.
The roads might be slow, but most of the time they were safer than the sea.
This is a bit outside the topic, but I’ve just read a newspaper article (Toronto Star,Feb. 6, 2016, Insight) about a translated diary from one of six Persian/Iranian students who were sent to London to learn about industry and modern warfare in 1818, and stayed 3 1/2 years. I do hope one of the wenches takes a look! The book is “The Love of Strangers; what six Muslim Students learned in Jane Austen’s London”, by Nile Green.
This is a bit outside the topic, but I’ve just read a newspaper article (Toronto Star,Feb. 6, 2016, Insight) about a translated diary from one of six Persian/Iranian students who were sent to London to learn about industry and modern warfare in 1818, and stayed 3 1/2 years. I do hope one of the wenches takes a look! The book is “The Love of Strangers; what six Muslim Students learned in Jane Austen’s London”, by Nile Green.
This is a bit outside the topic, but I’ve just read a newspaper article (Toronto Star,Feb. 6, 2016, Insight) about a translated diary from one of six Persian/Iranian students who were sent to London to learn about industry and modern warfare in 1818, and stayed 3 1/2 years. I do hope one of the wenches takes a look! The book is “The Love of Strangers; what six Muslim Students learned in Jane Austen’s London”, by Nile Green.
This is a bit outside the topic, but I’ve just read a newspaper article (Toronto Star,Feb. 6, 2016, Insight) about a translated diary from one of six Persian/Iranian students who were sent to London to learn about industry and modern warfare in 1818, and stayed 3 1/2 years. I do hope one of the wenches takes a look! The book is “The Love of Strangers; what six Muslim Students learned in Jane Austen’s London”, by Nile Green.
This is a bit outside the topic, but I’ve just read a newspaper article (Toronto Star,Feb. 6, 2016, Insight) about a translated diary from one of six Persian/Iranian students who were sent to London to learn about industry and modern warfare in 1818, and stayed 3 1/2 years. I do hope one of the wenches takes a look! The book is “The Love of Strangers; what six Muslim Students learned in Jane Austen’s London”, by Nile Green.
Thanks for that tip, Mary Jane.
The curricle looks just like what is used today in horse racing, for trotters. Very flimsy!
I enjoy hearing the details about travel, but I still don’t understand all the different vehicle types, so I rely on the author’s description. Some of the vehicles I’ve seen in historicals are the phaeton, barouche, landau, gig and town coach. Usually they’ll at least say how many people could be seated inside, and if it was comfortable or not.
Thanks for that tip, Mary Jane.
The curricle looks just like what is used today in horse racing, for trotters. Very flimsy!
I enjoy hearing the details about travel, but I still don’t understand all the different vehicle types, so I rely on the author’s description. Some of the vehicles I’ve seen in historicals are the phaeton, barouche, landau, gig and town coach. Usually they’ll at least say how many people could be seated inside, and if it was comfortable or not.
Thanks for that tip, Mary Jane.
The curricle looks just like what is used today in horse racing, for trotters. Very flimsy!
I enjoy hearing the details about travel, but I still don’t understand all the different vehicle types, so I rely on the author’s description. Some of the vehicles I’ve seen in historicals are the phaeton, barouche, landau, gig and town coach. Usually they’ll at least say how many people could be seated inside, and if it was comfortable or not.
Thanks for that tip, Mary Jane.
The curricle looks just like what is used today in horse racing, for trotters. Very flimsy!
I enjoy hearing the details about travel, but I still don’t understand all the different vehicle types, so I rely on the author’s description. Some of the vehicles I’ve seen in historicals are the phaeton, barouche, landau, gig and town coach. Usually they’ll at least say how many people could be seated inside, and if it was comfortable or not.
Thanks for that tip, Mary Jane.
The curricle looks just like what is used today in horse racing, for trotters. Very flimsy!
I enjoy hearing the details about travel, but I still don’t understand all the different vehicle types, so I rely on the author’s description. Some of the vehicles I’ve seen in historicals are the phaeton, barouche, landau, gig and town coach. Usually they’ll at least say how many people could be seated inside, and if it was comfortable or not.
That book does sound fascinating, Mary Jane. Travelers’ accounts give us a whole new angle on things.
That book does sound fascinating, Mary Jane. Travelers’ accounts give us a whole new angle on things.
That book does sound fascinating, Mary Jane. Travelers’ accounts give us a whole new angle on things.
That book does sound fascinating, Mary Jane. Travelers’ accounts give us a whole new angle on things.
That book does sound fascinating, Mary Jane. Travelers’ accounts give us a whole new angle on things.
Karin, it can be complicated, but a lot of the detail isn’t necessary unless it’s a plot point. It’s like today. We’d say someone traveled by car without specifying if it was a sports car, a wagon etc (and people in different countries use different terms!)
Jo
Karin, it can be complicated, but a lot of the detail isn’t necessary unless it’s a plot point. It’s like today. We’d say someone traveled by car without specifying if it was a sports car, a wagon etc (and people in different countries use different terms!)
Jo
Karin, it can be complicated, but a lot of the detail isn’t necessary unless it’s a plot point. It’s like today. We’d say someone traveled by car without specifying if it was a sports car, a wagon etc (and people in different countries use different terms!)
Jo
Karin, it can be complicated, but a lot of the detail isn’t necessary unless it’s a plot point. It’s like today. We’d say someone traveled by car without specifying if it was a sports car, a wagon etc (and people in different countries use different terms!)
Jo
Karin, it can be complicated, but a lot of the detail isn’t necessary unless it’s a plot point. It’s like today. We’d say someone traveled by car without specifying if it was a sports car, a wagon etc (and people in different countries use different terms!)
Jo
A family tale of travel in the U. S.
In the early 19th century, my great grandfather and his future brother-in-law traveled about 7/8s of the north/south length of Indiana (from Wabash Indiana to Corydon Indiana on the Ohio River) by a method called “light and tie.” They fastened a very small trunk to the back of their single horse and set out together each morning, one rode and the other walked. After a certain set distance, the rider dismounted, tethered the horse where it could graze and drink and began walking. The walker reached the horse, rode on, passing his partner, and repeated the “light and tie.” They stopped at an agreed place each evening. I suppose that the rider made came for that night, as he would have been the first to arrive.
I never heard how long the trip took, nor how many miles they covered each day. But it was obviously more miles than walking the entire distances would have been; and the trunk and necessary camping supplies were easier to transport on the horse than backpacking would have been. Also, the horse was given time to graze and recuperate between its working periods.
At Corydon they completed their advanced education, then repeated the light-and-tie journey to return to Wabash, where they became farmers and teachers.
A family tale of travel in the U. S.
In the early 19th century, my great grandfather and his future brother-in-law traveled about 7/8s of the north/south length of Indiana (from Wabash Indiana to Corydon Indiana on the Ohio River) by a method called “light and tie.” They fastened a very small trunk to the back of their single horse and set out together each morning, one rode and the other walked. After a certain set distance, the rider dismounted, tethered the horse where it could graze and drink and began walking. The walker reached the horse, rode on, passing his partner, and repeated the “light and tie.” They stopped at an agreed place each evening. I suppose that the rider made came for that night, as he would have been the first to arrive.
I never heard how long the trip took, nor how many miles they covered each day. But it was obviously more miles than walking the entire distances would have been; and the trunk and necessary camping supplies were easier to transport on the horse than backpacking would have been. Also, the horse was given time to graze and recuperate between its working periods.
At Corydon they completed their advanced education, then repeated the light-and-tie journey to return to Wabash, where they became farmers and teachers.
A family tale of travel in the U. S.
In the early 19th century, my great grandfather and his future brother-in-law traveled about 7/8s of the north/south length of Indiana (from Wabash Indiana to Corydon Indiana on the Ohio River) by a method called “light and tie.” They fastened a very small trunk to the back of their single horse and set out together each morning, one rode and the other walked. After a certain set distance, the rider dismounted, tethered the horse where it could graze and drink and began walking. The walker reached the horse, rode on, passing his partner, and repeated the “light and tie.” They stopped at an agreed place each evening. I suppose that the rider made came for that night, as he would have been the first to arrive.
I never heard how long the trip took, nor how many miles they covered each day. But it was obviously more miles than walking the entire distances would have been; and the trunk and necessary camping supplies were easier to transport on the horse than backpacking would have been. Also, the horse was given time to graze and recuperate between its working periods.
At Corydon they completed their advanced education, then repeated the light-and-tie journey to return to Wabash, where they became farmers and teachers.
A family tale of travel in the U. S.
In the early 19th century, my great grandfather and his future brother-in-law traveled about 7/8s of the north/south length of Indiana (from Wabash Indiana to Corydon Indiana on the Ohio River) by a method called “light and tie.” They fastened a very small trunk to the back of their single horse and set out together each morning, one rode and the other walked. After a certain set distance, the rider dismounted, tethered the horse where it could graze and drink and began walking. The walker reached the horse, rode on, passing his partner, and repeated the “light and tie.” They stopped at an agreed place each evening. I suppose that the rider made came for that night, as he would have been the first to arrive.
I never heard how long the trip took, nor how many miles they covered each day. But it was obviously more miles than walking the entire distances would have been; and the trunk and necessary camping supplies were easier to transport on the horse than backpacking would have been. Also, the horse was given time to graze and recuperate between its working periods.
At Corydon they completed their advanced education, then repeated the light-and-tie journey to return to Wabash, where they became farmers and teachers.
A family tale of travel in the U. S.
In the early 19th century, my great grandfather and his future brother-in-law traveled about 7/8s of the north/south length of Indiana (from Wabash Indiana to Corydon Indiana on the Ohio River) by a method called “light and tie.” They fastened a very small trunk to the back of their single horse and set out together each morning, one rode and the other walked. After a certain set distance, the rider dismounted, tethered the horse where it could graze and drink and began walking. The walker reached the horse, rode on, passing his partner, and repeated the “light and tie.” They stopped at an agreed place each evening. I suppose that the rider made came for that night, as he would have been the first to arrive.
I never heard how long the trip took, nor how many miles they covered each day. But it was obviously more miles than walking the entire distances would have been; and the trunk and necessary camping supplies were easier to transport on the horse than backpacking would have been. Also, the horse was given time to graze and recuperate between its working periods.
At Corydon they completed their advanced education, then repeated the light-and-tie journey to return to Wabash, where they became farmers and teachers.