Can anyone tell me how one would travel from Coldingham BEW to London in the 1820's ? By stage coach ? By sea ? On horseback ? Do you think someone would go on spec ? Or would he have a job waiting for him ? Cyril

Hi Cyril, Most would travel be sea from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Only the rich could afford travel by Stage-Coach, however the 'Berwick Smacks' carried passengers as well as cargo.. The fares around the time you are interested in were one pound ten shillings in a cabin or one pound steerage, children 7 shillings or 14 shillings, depending on age, dogs 5 shillings. This would have been a very uncomfortable and dangerous voyage in the winter. Details above were taken from the book 'Recollections' or 'Incidents culled from the lives of some of our sea-faring men.' Published by Martins of Berwick in 1908. Best regards - Mike Simpson, Penrith, NSW, Australia Email: agene@tpg.com.au HomePage: http://www.bigfoot.com/~agene