This document discusses the evolution of transport networks in rural landscapes over time. It describes how networks started as simple human paths, expanded with Neolithic trade routes, and the Romans built the first purposeful road network for military and economic purposes. After the Roman collapse, only narrow packhorse trails existed until later developments like drove roads, canals, and eventually railways which transformed transport. The car and modern roads then became dominant, though airports and airplanes now provide the fastest transport option, with uncertainties around environmental sustainability. Transport has been a defining element shaping rural landscapes and connecting human settlements throughout history.

1. Notes to accompany 1017 “Landscape elements 1; transport
networks”
Slides 1-3
We are looking at the rural landscape as a so called “characteristic” landscape. What defines its
particular character are its variety of elements and how they relate to each other. What are
landscape elements? These are the particular types of features which come together to make
one landscape show one character, which differs from another landscape with different
elements. Elements can be clearly defined isolated features such as buildings, or very
generalised, extensive features such as field patterns or land morphology (the underlying shape
of the land). One often overlooked but vital element of any rural landscape is the transport
network which overlays and links it together. People move and require goods and services from
distant locations. Transport is fundamental and a network for transport technologies is one of
the defining characteristics of a human occupied or exploitedlandscape.
Slides 4-5
The presence of humans in all parts of the world form hundreds of thousands of years ago is
clear evidence of movement from Africa, almost certainly on foot. There was no transport
network as people arrived in any new location, but a network of paths going back to previous
locations and to neighbouring migrants would quickly have developed, where the land allowed
it. Neolithic movement can be traced through the discovery of stone tools far from their place of
origin. They were trade goods, and there would have been trade routes. But little evidence
remains of those routes.
Some ancient, upland routes, like the Ridgeway over the Downs, are still used. There was not a
single pathway, but an extended, linear upland route, which linked settlements and kept up out
of the flooded valley bottoms. Some of the ridgeway route is still footpath, whilst some is
covered by modern roads.
Slide 6
The Romans built the first purposeful network of rural roads. They served initially as a military
network, allowing troops to move remarkably quickly around the Empire, but once in place they
also acted as the trade arteries which allowed the Empire to function economically. Britain
provided wool and grain to the rest of the Empire and to Rome itself. The network was so
successful that much of it still exists within the modern road system.
Slide 7
After the collapse of the Roman Empire. Little in the way of new roads were constructed. Goods
were moved by narrow pack horse trails. These only had to be wide enough to let a loaded
horse pass. Some still exist as narrow, very deep lanes, often crossing over ridges form one

2. valley to the next. A very few original packhorse bridges still exist. They had low or absent
parapet walls, so that the loaded panniers could stick out either side. Loads often fell into the
rivers below.
Slides 8-11
With the growth of British maritime power in the late middle ages, a need arose to move
livestock to the ports and markets on the south coast form the upland farms where they were
fattened. The only way to do this was to walk, or “drive” the animals. Wide trails developed,
which were essentially linear meadows. They were walled to keep the livestock off neighbouring
fields. Villages a one day’s walking distance would have greens, where the livestock were
corralled overnight whilst their drivers stayed in the Drovers Arms.
Similar routes exist in other countries where livestock are still driven form winter pasture to
summer pasture. They share the same characteristics as the ancient drove roads. Wide, grassy
grazing strips along the road, and fenced to contain the cattle.
Slides 12-13
The biggest technological change was the development of the canal system in the 18th century.
Canals have existed in China for over 2,000 years, but the English canal system was the first,
industrialised transport system conceived since the Roman roads. Large volumes of heavy
materials could be moved easily and safely large distances in short periods of time. Vernacular
architecture effectively died as it was now cheaper to import bricks and slates than to use local
stone and thatch.
Slides 14-15
An even bigger technological change was the invention of railways. Heavy goods could be
moved at high speed and unlimited volumes. Livestock could be transported for the first time,
so the drove roads died. All that a
American cowboys are really doing is driving cattle from the open plains to the rail heads, where
they could be taken by train to Cincinnati to be turned into corned beef. Not very romantic at all
really.
Slide 16-18
The invention of the car and the motorised lorry brought roads back to the forefront. People
could now have individual transport, which is a universal longing. The car made this possible,
but the roads had to be improved to accommodate them. Road building has outstripped
railways for the last 60 years, but may be running out of steam. HS2 is on the way.

3. Slide 19
Aeroplanes are the latest transformative transport technology. Whilst airports require huge
areas of rural land, aeroplanes do not need anything between their start and finish points apart
from air. How sustainable air travel will prove is anyone’s guess, but it is currently not only
quicker, but cheaper, to fly from London to Edinburgh than it is to drive or take the trains. But at
what environmental cost?