Roads: Three Years and Still the Road is not Repaired – local people complain!

The following were found in the central government records of the 14th century and they just go to show that getting a road repaired has always been difficult.  The Barden Road was subject to a great deal of heavy traffic as there were iron works at Barden.  Geoffrey Copepepir (or Culpepper) was part of the same family who owned the manor of Great Barnetts.

18 June 1371
Commission to William Pympe, Sheriff of Kent, William de Cobeham and Roger Assheburnham to find by inquisition in the said county who are bound to repair the street leading from Penshurst to Barden, which is over-deep and muddy and worn out by frequent passage of carts and horses, and to compel such by all means to do so.

16 May 1373
Commission to Geofrey Colepepir, sheriff of Kent, William Harewell and Roger Asshbournham, on information that the highway leading from the town of Penshurst in that county to Barden is deep and muddy, worn down by the frequent passing of cars and horses, to find who are bound and ought to repair the same and compel them to do so.

16 May 1374
Commission to Robert de Notyngham, sheriff of Kent, William Harewell and Roger Asshbournham, on information that the highway form Penshurst in that county to Barden is deep, muddy and worn by traffic or carts and horses, to find by inquisition in the said county who are bound to repair and mend the same, and to compel them by all means to do so.

 

(Parish Magazine Article: Oct 1994:  no author, but probably Lawrence Biddle)