John Dunn - John Dunn original writing

John Dunn original writing

John Dunn hands an important road to Dr John Dunn.

Supplement to the Oxford to Cambridge Project.

Reading the Toll Roads of Buckinghamshire by P. Gulland, I came across this succinct background to the development of the two principle routes between Oxford and Cambridge. Failure of the Newport Pagnell to Bedford Turnpike crops up frequently, causing innovative thinking amongst the map and itinerary makers.

In the late middle Ages a pair of parallel routes linked Oxford with Bedford, where they joined and continued as one to Cambridge. Today’s 418 route, passing through Thame, Aylesbury, and Leighton Buzzard, was part of the southern arm of that pair. It seems to have become so subordinate to the northern route via Bicester, Buckingham and Newport Pagnell that by the late seventeenth century it was not recognised by map makers as a cross-country route.

However,during the turnpike era the importance of the southern route grew, possibly because worsening road conditions between Newport Pagnell and Bedford deflected traffic to it from the northern arm.

These north and south options were only supplemented by the Icknield Way route in the major itineraries of the turnpike era.

Pictured: Thame High Street, an important turnpike route

© John Dunn.

From the archive: Community of oligarchs

Silesius prompted thoughts
All history, all present, all future is the forest. No tree falls there unless man sees.
John Dunn

Just a thought: ‘Thank God for the possibility of my holding certain beliefs’ some might say. But it is too simplistic to suggest that all are at liberty to think how they will. You only have to look at the world to see that people are thinking, behaving and consuming in ways that are increasingly similar. Liberty seems to be mistaken for the ‘principles’ of the corporate human resources department, where all are equal in a 1=1 prison. In this sense, an individual right becomes a right to nothing. (Traditionalism: the only radicalism) John Dunn

The Oxford to Cambridge Arc
I will follow these routes and others by map and by cycling and motorcycling along the roads to unearth the archaeology of this ancient Gough map and the later accretions that followed in its path.
John Dunn

Image front and back on Dr John Dunn. Visit the YouTube Channel - Dr John Dunn

Gentle motorcycle touring on a Royal Enfield Classic 500.

The historical, quirky and unusual features of the English countryside seen from the saddle are captured on video.

Join me as I follow maps, park up and take a look around.

"...I love riding these quiet country lanes - the type of road on which this Royal Enfield excels, with its low revving, low compression, long stroke engine just chugging away, able to pull even the lowest speeds on this type of road in its highest gear. It all makes for a very satisfying way to travel around when seeking out the historic, the unusual and the quirky points of interest from the English landscape."

Original commentary researched, written and read by John Dunn. Connect here.

A podcast by John Dunn.

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Original writing read by the author.

A podcast by John Dunn.

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Original writing read by the author.

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