Bernard,
My sincere condolences upon the loss of your mother.
Kindest regards,
Trevor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernard Moore" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:44 PM
Subject: Re: More pack animals!
> Dear Roger,
>
> I have been watching this subject for some while, and, indeed, have been
> weighing up the 'evidence' one way and another.
>
> This matter is unfortunately somewhat fraught with varied opinions from
> different professional opinion, and, to date - it seems - never the twain
> shall meet. I consider this a pity, since, with proper open and
> considered
> debate, the matter will not be resolved. My opinion is that there are
> factors
> to be considered on both sides... oh how this sounds like sitting on the
> fence... not so.
>
> From what I have read recently ( and I am not at this stage going to quote
> same, simply for the reason that my Mother died yesterday and am not up to
> fine detail just at the moment), that there is every reason to believe
> that
> raised 'was' were erected for the passage of packhorse routes. They were
> indeed many and in varied construction.
>
> Old passage routes (W.Country particularly), were historically many and
> varied, and followed all sorts of boundaries. They indeed criss-crossed
> all
> over the place, simply due to whatever Port, destination or market they
> had
> to reach... furthermore, and to complicate matters further, there were
> other
> older routes that were partially or directly followed that were non
> mining
> related, but, in some way shape or form became incorporated. This leads
> to
> the question of what was where first... and there were many, BUT, the
> packhorse routes needed a sounder construction... however... so did the
> main
> footway routes... of which there were many. Do not forget we are not
> talking
> about wagon or coach ways, these either followed entirely new routes due
> to
> terrain, or partially followed the old routes where they were able.
>
> Ok, this does not answer the original question of these so called
> boundaries - or whatever one may call them. Raised 'walls' are common in
> some areas
> for the use of packhorses. I have seen them myself. Such elevated
> constructions can easily be mistaken for simple boundaries. Moorland
> terrain makes
> this judgement even more difficult, but as far the West country is
> concerned, don't be blinkered into thinking that such constructions are
> only to be
> found there.
>
> What I have said might stimulate conversation I hope. I am looking for
> something to take my mind off things, and such a seemingly volatile
> subject
> might just be the thing!!!
>
> Regards, Bernard
>
>
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