EXTRACTS FROM THE NOTTINGHAM AND DISTRICT YEARBOOK 1750.

Continued from the previous newsletter…………..

Owing to the bad state of the highways, the carriers, whether by pack or wheel-carriage, were in number very limited. So inadequate were these conveyances to accommodate the intercourse of the district, that no fewer than 400 saddle-horses were kept by the middle and trading class of Nottingham alone, a proportion of about one horse to each 29 inhabitants. These means of conveyance were, however, inaccessible to the generality of the working classes, who, when required at distant places, had to perform many a weary pilgrimage on foot. The idea of such a luxury as cheap railway trains flying at a speed of twenty miles an hour, would have been deemed highly Utopian and visionary. William Hutton states in his " Life," that when in business at Nottingham, (at about the date indicated in the margin.) he walked to London and back for the purpose of buying tools, and was nine days away from home, six of which were spent in going and returning. He travelled all the way on foot, dreading robbers, and still more dreading the cost of food and lodging at public-houses. His whole expenses during this toilsome expedition were only ten shillings and eight pence; but he contented himself with the barest necessities, keeping the money for his tools sewed up in his shirt-collar. If Hutton had lived in these days, he would, upon principles of sheer economy, taking into account the loss of time, have gone to London and back by a " Government train," as well as have avoided much fatigue and danger.

The nobility and gentry were accustomed to make their long journeys in ponderous family carriages, drawn by four horses- These vehicles would be laden at the top with an array of trunks and boxes, while perhaps six or seven persons, with a lapdog, would be stowed within. The danger of famine on the road was averted by a travelling larder of baskets of various condiments; the risk of thirst would be provided against by bottles of usquebaugh (whisky), black cherry-brandy and cinnamon water, port or strong beer.: while the convoy would be protected by basket-hilled sword, an old blunderbuss, and a bag of bullets and a great horn of gunpowder. Such protection in those days was necessary. The roads were infested with highwaymen, and stoppages were of almost daily occurrence. Many a Dick Turpin traversed the open roads and frequented the secluded nooks of this and the neighbouring counties, and an encounter with one or more of them was a contingency for which the prudent traveller had to provide.

The highwaymen were in general wary and desperate, well knowing that if once in the clutches of the law, their doom was certain. Death was the common punishment of this and other offences. " Guilty—Death," were familiar words in the criminal courts. It was death to steal mutton—death requited the industry of the burglar, the shoplifter, and the coiner—death attended all, and was regarded as the great conservator of social security. The murderer fared no worse than the robber of a hen-roost. All were thrust alike into an underground cell, and at the appointed hour, led forth to expiate their crime on the Gallows-hill.

Felons in the Town Jail were chained in vaults under the present building Their condition was at times wretched, the distemper known as “ the jail fever “ raging so violently as to decimate their number. Debtors were incarcerated in the cells above.  The County Jail in the High-pavement, occupied but a part of the site of the present structure. It had a ham-like appearance, with three large wooden gates in front in a very dilapidated state, and was altogether little better than a ruin.

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