From isolation to integration : the development of roads in the northern highlands of Scotland 1800-1850
This thesis examines the development of roads in the Northern Highlands of Scotland during the first half of the nineteenth century. These roads were constructed under the auspices of both the Government Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges, appointed in 1803, and the established local administration in the respective counties. At the outset of the period, the road infrastructure of the area was massively inferior to that existing in other parts of the country, although in the fertile eastern coastal fringe with its concentrated human and natural resources, the economic base necessary for modernising the roads began to emerge by the middle years of the eighteenth century. However inland and western districts were then in the throes of a painful process of clearance and resettlement which would signally fail to generate the economic success so desperately required to sustain a rapidly increasing and poverty stricken population. The fragility and decline which characterised the West Highland economy in the period under consideration, retarded all aspects of locally funded development, particularly the construction of roads. In Ross-shire, the reluctance of the more prosperous east to assist would have
Smith, John A. R.
Roads
From isolation to integration : the development of roads in the northern highlands of Scotland 1800-1850. This thesis examines the development of roads in the Northern Highlands of Scotland during the first half of the nineteenth century. These roads were constructed under the auspices of both the Government Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges, appointed in 1803, and the established local administration in the respective counties. At the outset of the period, the road infrastructure of the area was massively inferior to that existing in other parts of the country, although in the fertile eastern coastal fringe with its concentrated human and natural resources, the economic base necessary for modernising the roads began to emerge by the middle years of the eighteenth century. However inland and western districts were then in the throes of a painful process of clearance and resettlement which would signally fail to generate the economic success so desperately required to sustain a rapidly increasing and poverty stricken population. The fragility and decline which characterised the West Highland economy in the period under consideration, retarded all aspects of locally funded development, particularly the construction of roads. In Ross-shire, the reluctance of the more prosperous east to assist would have
isolation integration development road northern highland scotland examines_development road northern highlands scotland roads constructed government highland roads appoint establish local_administration respective county outset period road infrastructure area massively inferior exist part_country although fertile eastern coastal fringe concentrate human natural_resource economic base necessary modernise road begin_emerge however inland western district painful process clearance would fail generate economic success required sustain rapidly increase poverty population fragility decline characterise west highland economy period consideration retard aspect locally fund development particularly construction road ross shire reluctance prosperous east assist would