School: Slane (B.) (roll number 4851)

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1. Local Roads (continued)

   

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   it ran into a ford at the old mill. It then continued on and next we see it about three quarters of a mile up our main Dublin road. It is known here as Thoms lane and just at this point in olden times there was a turnpike where the people had to pay a toll before they could pass through.
   There is a very interesting story in connection with this road. On one occasion when Collier the famous highwayman was pursuing his activities our history tells us that he dressed up a number of sticks in the ditch to look like men and when the mail coach from Belfast to Dublin came along, Collier called on the driver to surrender. This he immediately did as he thought he was surrounded by an armed band. Collier then robbed the coach and decamped.
   As far as it is known it is about one hundred and fifty years ago since our roads were made and of course the work was dreadfully hard and the hours long about twelve hours per day for fourpence being the usual rate.
   At this time there were no bridges so the rivers were crossed by fords these were made by placing large boulders in the water at its shallowest point. There is one of these fords at Slane bridge locally called the Slane ford and there is another at Rosnaree about three miles down the river.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. objects
      1. man-made structures
         1. public infrastructure
            1. roads (~2,778)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Robert Tallon

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Slane, Co. Meath