Here is a piece taken from a handwritten document found in Sheffield Archives which I copied out some years ago. I believe it was taken from a newspaper article. It was dated 1850 but refers back to an earlier time. "Taken from Origin of the Principle trades in Sheffield, Being extracts from the Historical and traditional account of the Town and Vicinage Written and compiled by Charles Dixon" I don't have the full reference to hand, but could find it if anyone is interested. The many mistakes are mine. The Conveyance of Goods by Pack Horses Sheffield Times Let us consider what was done in days of old before 1710 in which year a person of the name of Wright of Mansfield introduced the first Stage Waggon all public travelling was equestrian and the conveyance of all bulk and weight was affected by carriages as distinguished from the principle of draughts - the Burden was fitted to the animals back - which not infrequently was but ill fitted to bear it - and stumbling along cross roads - crossing rivers - & climbing steeps - the jaded brute day by day finished his weary route - but in all this we must in imagination for a century & half or more - and at early dawn a principle thoroughfare in Sheffield presented a scene not unlike what may be found in Cairo - when a caravan is preparing to cross the Deserts on its journey - and the patient camels are submitting to the imposition of enormous bales of merchandise which the owners are heaping on their rugged sides. [illegible] as however the Beast of Burden is the Pack Horse - of which a train of not less than fifty in number is undergoing the process of loading. Some kindly hand of a bystander - or the littered hay upon the Causeway occasionally affords the submissive animal a mouthful to occupy its time before starting and reconcile him to the endurance of an extra package or two - most of the Horses are freighted with goods only - the manufacturys of our citizens & those comprise the heavy portion of the cavalcade - but another market stock - both live and dead is piled up to a lofty eminance - including grain - & poultry - vegetables and even pigs - not without considerable noise and contests are some of these creatures deposited in their crates & then secured across the Horses loins and when the Indles[?] are fitted on the hock and the leaders of it begin to prick their ears and toss their heads - on the signal of readiness being given to start then little bells which ornament the harness and cheer the steps of them & their companions produce a confused but yet merry tingle and carry forth a multitude of Human beings from the Inn before which the preparations have been going on - this company consists of travellers with their friends and merchants who are either accompanying their wares or on some other business are journeying to the Capital. Perched on high amidst boxes and bundles - children and women - old men and maidens (even as Rodene[?] Random sat of old) are then slowed away amidst the tears or laughter of their acquaintance they are leaving - whilst the more active of the men either starting on foot or more easily bestride [illegible] a beast which has some appearance of saddle & pollien[?] on its back - complete the preliminary arrangements and the orders for march are given. Onward they move through the Town into the Country on roads on which a track is paved for the especial use of the Pack Horse train but lanes have to be traversed which have no roads yet in which dust holes constantly occur - the practise of which produces to both man and horse a jolt like a shock of electricity - anon they emerge from one of these blind alleys and a green & level sward opens before the Travellers sight - which cheers him with the prospect of more easy riding - alas - more deceitful than the vision of the Broken - the smooth lawn is trodden with increased caution by the snorting horses - the experienced old leader like the bell wether of a flock takes a devious course of his own in which he is strictly followed by the long train of animals behind him & when he is enveloped in a dense mist which exhales from the untamed soil beneath - for it is a bog they are crossing - the bill [or both?] of his Indles [illegible] as sensibly[?] as a lantern at midnight the only safe path which his oft tried sagacity had chosen - and along this for miles before they have passed the peril - the bewildered travellers have silently submitted to be borne - But neither the danger nor the days work is over - their course is now opened when a river - which in ordinary seasons is easily fordable but is at present swollen over its banks by heavy rains and it must be crossed before there [illegible] be an opportunity of resting and here if any where the live stock betray themselves - how can geese be still in panniers where water is audibly rushing under their webbed feet - or ducks be silent in the same tantalising situation - but if delight and animation swell their cry - fear operates with the like effect in [illegible] women and children and a hubbub arises the wildest and most discontinent from various [illegible] of the equine [illegible] - but no one is injured the opposite shore is reached without more suffering than apprehension - and a little splashing inflict - the hardy carriers make light to the company they are conducting of these and all similar difficulties as well as the present one with which they themselves are familiar as an highland [illegible] of our own time and with a cheering prospect of food bed and a smoking rasher - which the [2 words illegible] of a village Church with the light of the setting sun upon it testifies they cannot now be more than a mile off they once more from the order of march & proceed. Such was the travelling and transport of goods in days of yore Sheffield Times Janet