Highways Act 1555 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
|
|
| Citation | 2 & 3 Ph. & M. c. 8 |
|---|---|
Quick facts for kids Other legislation |
|
| Amended by | Highways Act 1562 |
| Repealed by | Highways (No. 2) Act 1766 |
|
Status: Repealed
|
|
The Highways Act 1555 was an important law passed in England in 1555. It's sometimes called the First Statute of Highways. This Act made local communities, called parishes, responsible for keeping their roads in good condition. Before this law, there wasn't a clear system for road maintenance. This Act was later changed and added to by the Highways Act 1562.
Contents
The Highways Act of 1555
This law was created to make sure that roads, or highways, were properly looked after. At the time, roads were often in very bad shape. This made it hard for people to travel and move goods between towns. The Act aimed to fix this problem by giving local areas the job of road repair.
What the Act Said
The Act set out clear rules for how roads should be maintained. It focused on roads within each local area, known as a parish. These were the roads that connected villages to important market towns.
Who Was Responsible?
Every year, during the week of Easter, each parish had to choose two "honest persons." These people were called the Surveyors of Highways. Their main job was to make sure the roads in their parish were kept in good repair.
The Surveyors would announce when the road work would happen. This announcement was made on the first Sunday after Easter. The work itself would take place for four days before June 24th.
Working on the Roads
Everyone in the parish had to help with the road work.
- If someone owned a certain amount of land (called a ploughland), or if they had a team of animals for pulling carts (a draught team) or a plough, they had to provide a cart or wagon. This cart needed to be ready for the work. They also had to send two strong workers. If they didn't, they faced a fine of 10 shillings. The Surveyors could also ask for two extra workers instead of a cart.
- Every other householder, as well as cottagers (people living in small houses) and labourers (workers) who were free to work, had to send themselves or another able-bodied person. They had to work for all four days. If they didn't, they faced a fine of 12 pence per day.
- All workers had to bring their own tools. They were expected to work for eight hours each day on the roads.
Changes Over Time
The Highways Act 1555 was first meant to last for seven years. However, its rules were so important that they were extended. The Highways Act 1562 made the provisions of the 1555 Act continue for another twenty years. Eventually, this original Act was replaced. It was officially cancelled, or repealed, by a new law called the Highways (No. 2) Act 1766.
