I don't know. It's just that while strolling around York before breakfast, I noticed that there are stones laid along the roads. They are about four and a half feet apart, and presumably there to stop carts creating ruts in the roads.
I know no more, and I can't even work out where to go looking, so I toss this out to you lot for ideas.
5 comments:
It's less about carts and more about modern delivery vans I expect!
The road surfaces in York aren't as old as many folk think. Everytime recently there's a suggestion that they might be improved (to allow better access for wheelchairs, prams and the infirm etc) there's a social media outrage "think of the heritage". Someone then produces a photo from the 70's when it was all tarmac anyway.
Yes, I wondered whether the stone tracks might be relatively modern, as they line up well with the (19th century?) gateway in the last photo? It must be at least 50 years since I last visited York, and I cannot remember what the roads were like. Although I do remember that I was disappointed not to see evidence of a central gutter along The Shambles!…
Snickleway is such a good word for York's alleyways.
I'm tempted to suggest, in line with earlier comments, that these might not be too old, and, given York is a cycling city, they might be intended for users on two wheels because riding over cobbles is interesting. Hence the old NSFW joke.
Those do look a bit new, original slabs like this are seen on inclined roads to make life easier for the horses going uphill with heavy loads.
They generally are not flat having a dip in the middle
I've seen these before. I assumed they were to provide a smoother ride for carts while the cobbles give the horses traction. I can see little advantage for modern vehicles, except to reduce tyre noise I suppose.
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