The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-09-16 00:00:00

MEETING AT KING'S FERRY,

FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING ON THE BEST LINE OF
ROAD FOR LIVERPOOL, AND FOR PRESENTING MR. JAMES
BOYDELL WITH A PIECE OF PLATE FOR HIS INVENTION FOR
CROSSING THE DEE.

On Wednesday, a meeting convened by public circular was
held-at the Hawarden Castle Hotel, King's Ferry, for the
purpose of determining on the best line of road for Liverpool;
the Right Hon. Lord Mostyn was called to the chair. -We
observed amongst the. gentlemen present,—the Rev. Henry
Glynn, Major Jones, of Were-hall; J. Lewis, Esq., of Ventre
Cacheion ; T. Roberts, Esq., of Mold; J. Williams, Esq., of
Carreglewyd; WilSon Jones, Esq., M.P.; Colonel Pinups;
the Hon. Mr. Alostyn Lloyd Mostyn M.P.; Mr. Mallabv, e
Birkenhead; Mr. Lace, Mr. A. Nif
chol, and Mr. Richard
Hutchinson, of Liverpool; Mr. Chamberlaine, and• several
other gentlemen whose names we did not learn.
His I.onDSHIP, in opening the business of the meeting said
it was unnecessary for him to say ranch in introducing the
object for which they were met. It had already been made
public. The plans that had been under consideration would be
laid before them. Theywere met to decide whether there should
be any new road from King's Ferry to Liverpool or not, and if
they should determine on one, which line would be the most ad-
vantageous. For his own part, he earnestly wished them to
select a line of road which would be the best, and one which
could not he iinproyed upon, nod one on which they would,
never regret having laid out their money upon. He had in ibis
experience seen many roads Which he had regretted most
heartily had ever been formed, because better lines bad after-
wards been found out. They had plenty of time before then",
and he would recommend them to hear the statements of those
g-entlemenwho made it their business to enquire into the sub-
ject,-and deAde on what trout 'be the best Lae, without refer-
, e.neeafo pa4lenlar interests. If they, found in those lines of
roadcranythitir irllich materially interfered with any gentleman's
prOperty, Irt kratittivitt to take that part into their. eon-
,sideration, ailxVlWitl 'On 41 e.tvoicied by any.slight deviation
so as'proPrietiiii tiVlltintebii inconvenienced. Mr. Boyden
had examined the litres 141'90. and was present, and would be
Able to give theM'b'efte'r! iiiThimalion on the subject, and he
'glioUld request Mr. Boyden shortlV'to state to them the distance
from King's Ferry to EaSthara• Ferry, and to the other ferries,
and leave theta to form their opinions as to which was the most
.iffigiible line. , " ; ' . • • '
-,,,,Mr, Boy nicnt. said that an application had been made the last
year for taking the road to Easthatn Ferry, but it was abandon-
ed in ' consequence of the want of money. Since then the
general opinion seemed to be that the Rock Ferry was the most
eligible terminus of the line of road. He had had a plan drawn,
and had taken a line through Woodbank to Rock Ferry, and
by that line the distance would be reduced to 66 yards within 11
miles, the present distance being 14 miles; and from the Rock
Ferry to Liverpool was about a quarter of an hour's sail.—
Steatn:bnats were plying every half hour.
The CHAIRmAN enquired if the Rock Petry Company were
pledged to have the steam-boats plying at that rate of time,
which was answered in the affirmative.
Mr. BOYDRIL continued. If the new line of road was made
to Eastham it would be a mile and a half round to get to any of
the lower terries. With regard to the funds, he was perfectly
confident that if the present traffic was only maintained there
would be more than sufficient to maintain the toll-gates and
keep the roads in repair, and that money might be advauccd
for carrying this object into execution with pet feet safety. He
calculated that the tolls obtained on the present line from the
King's Ferry equalled £1,200 a-year. He was also of opinion
that it would be a decided saving to adopt the Rock Ferry line
of road, as it would not be encroaching on any other trust. They
had two miles of the road already formed, and he should think
it would take £lO,OOO to complete the remainder. The pro-
perty of the landowners through which they had to pass be-
longed first to Mr. Bennington, who had said he would con-
sent to a line to Eastham.
The CHAIRNIAN.—" We should know the number of dissen-
tients to this line whether they would be sufficiently numerous
to throw out the bill."
Mr. BoynEu. said Sir Thomas Stanley opposed this line;
his pound of objection was, that it went too near to his covers,
and destroyed his sporting, and he should oppose it unless they
took his line to Eastham. The next person was Mr. Congreve,
over a little of whose land they passed. He conceived that he
would dissent from this line: he was of the same sentiments as
Sir Thomas Stanley.
The CHAIRMAN thought Sir Thomas Stanley would not op-
pose the line if it was proved to him that it would not interfere
with his sporting, and if it were shown that the making of this
road would do away with many other roads which had inter-
sected his grounds, and which his tenants would be relieved from
the expense of maintaining.
Mr. BOYDEL L.—The next person. was Mr. Heyes Lyon, from
whom he thought they should not experience any opposition;
the line then passed through -Mr. Bennett's, Mr. -Curry's, Mr.
Lyon's, and Mr. Heywood's land, from each of which gentle-
men he did not think they should experience any opposition.
It, then passed through Sir Thomas Champney's land, Mr.
Trelawnev's Lord Shrewsbury's, and Mr. Green's property,
'from each. oFwhich gehtlem-en he did not expect any opposition,
as it would prove a decided advantage to their property. They-
then came to Mr. Fielding's parsonage, at Beyington, which
they would have to pass a little round in order to avoid. Sup-
posing the same amount of traffic to continue as at present, the
amount of tolls now taken would be sufficient to pay the interest
of the money advanced to make the road; but, supposing an in-
crease of traffic, they could lower the tolls. The tolls, as at pre-
sent, would amount to 2s. for a gig, but, with increased traffic,
he did•not doubt but that they should be able to lower them to
Is. Ha had no doubt but that in a short time the traffic would
be trebled. And, supposing even they were to pay the present
amount of tolls, they would save a distance of three miles and
a ha'P

Mr. MALLABY said that The great object was to get the
best possible road between King's Ferry and Liverpool, If the
proposed line were the most convenient for all the lower ferries
then there could only he one sentiment on the subject, but if it
were possible to have a better line, then that point should be
considered.
Mr. Borns'. r. thought it would be impossible to find a better
line of road than to the Rock Ferry. They might make the
road to Woodside, but that would miss the other ferries, if their
interests were to be considered.
Mr. MALLABY said if they went below the Rock Ferry
they would go on other trusts, and have to pay extra toll.
The CHAIRMAN said, they Caine to consider which was the
best line without reference to any ferry. From the survey
whick had taken place it appeared that the distance to the Rock
Ferry was 60 yards within 11 miles. The question was, whether
it would be desirable to make a nearer road to any of the lower
ferries or not.
Mr. Bovnit.r, said it would be possible to make a nearer line
to Woodside, but he thought it would be restricting parties in
their choice of going to any or the lower ferries.
Mr. MALLABY thought this line (the Rock Ferry) would
not be givingto the other ferries a fair chance.
Mr. Box DELL said he was not considering the interests of the
ferries.

Mr. MALLADY said that was the best course; what they had
o consider was, which was the shortest way and the best to get
o Liverpool.
Mr. BOYDDLL said, by taking the proposed line to the rock
hey would have eleven miles to go by land, and about two and-
a-half by water; by Woodside they would have 13 miles to go
by land, and about a mile by water. It was for the gentry to
decide which route they would take. The expense of making
the road to Woodside would be immense, compared with the
other hue. •
The CHAIRMAN said they had heard the advantages and dis-
advantages of the proposed line to the Rock Ferry; he would
now suggest that Mr. Boydell should state the same particulars
with regard to East ham Ferry ; and it would then be for them
to decide whether a third line should be followed or not. It ap-
peared to him to be a matter of great importance as far as pos-
sible to keep down the rate of the tolls. Nothing in the world
was so likely to defeat their object as to adopt an expensive
line of road, and thereby oblige them to charge high tolls, and
by that means drive people up one lane and down another to
avoid theist:
Mr NICHOL!, said that passengers might hare the option of
landing at that part of Liverpool which was opposite the Rock
Ferry by steamers which it was 'intended to put on, which
would also be an advantage,
Mr: BoveeLL said that Eastham Ferry would be eight Miles
and a half; to the village seven miles and 62 chains. If they
went to Eastham they would have no tolls but their own, as
they would not go 100 yards on any trust, and persons going by
thiiroad would have the opportunity- of going by all the lower
ferries,. But the distance altogether instead of being 11 miles,
would be 12 miles and a half. The cost of the road on this line
would be £5OOO, as there was about two miles of the road com-
pleted. He was perfectly aware that it would be a great loss to
Sir Thomas Stanley to have the route taken from Eastham.
Mr. LACE remarked that there was another consideration
against the Eastham line ; they would not be able to get across
sooner than every two hours, and sometimes the packet was de-
layed by sticking on a bank; and in blowing weather the
coaches had frequently been obliged to go on to the lower
ferries.
The CHAIRMAN said it would be for the meeting to choose
which line they would adopt; andlhen the question was how
were the means to be raised for the expense of the road and
getting the bill through parliament.
A letter from Mr. Joseph King, of Woodchurch, addressed
to the Chairman, was here read, which begged to direct atten-
tion to a line through Willeston and across some of Mr.
Green's fields to Heedless Inn and on to Higher Bevington,
and along Broad-lane. If this line were adopted, the proprie-
tors of the land through which it passed would present the land
free of expense. The whole line would be nearly a dead level,
and the saving in the distance would be considerable. He was
confident that if not now, this line would ultimately be adopted.
Mr. BOY DELL said there would be a considerable saving by,
this line of about two miles, but they were saving by the pro-
posed route three miles and a half.
The CHAIRMAN said the giving of the land would be an ad-
vantage. They would decide whether they thought proper to
allow the surveyor to look over this line.
Mr. BOY DELL thought that if Mr. King were aware of the
proposed line he would give up his idea; he had only heard of
the Eastham line, and this which he proposed was certainly
much better. They could not have a better line of road than
to the Rock Ferry; it was perfectly direct.
The CHAIRMAN said it was now for the meeting to suggest
what was best to be done. If they adopted a lower line of road
than the projected one the expense would be considerably in-
creased.

Mr. Bovpint.begged to draw attention to the question of
funds; .the operations of the surveyor must be determined by
the amount of funds subscribed. He was certain that the pro-
jected line would pay, unless some unforseen circumstance, or
a
railwayinterfered with it.
The CiIAiI:MAN had reason to think that the railway from
Manchester to CreWe would be established, and it was his opi-
nion that it would probably injure this line of road:
Mr. MA LLA by theught the traffic on this road would be in-
creased by a railroad.

a railway from Chester to
. .Mr. Boinat,---saidthat supposing
Liverpool were Made, he did not think that persons would tra-
vel eight milei there for the sake of going to Liverpool by it,
when by going eleven miles they could get to Liverpool.
The CHAIRMAN then thought it came to this point, that they
generally approved of the line tO the Rock Ferry. The next