The Tudors

Transport

Coaches began to be developed in late Tudor times as a new approach was taken to road maintenance. The parish was made responsible for the roads through Acts of Parliament passed between 1555 and1573.

Every householder was expected to work on the roads for 6 days a year, or find somebody to do it for them. If a parish did its duty the roads (little more than dirt tracks) were good, if not the road could be downright dangerous!

What tells you this is the coach of someone important?

Click the picture for an answer.

Tudor times are remembered for exploration, voyaging and adventuring.

Gold, silver, precious gems, new foodstuffs and strange animals were brought back to England in ships like the one in the picture.

Sir Francis Drake travelled around the world in one in Elizabeth I's time.

Sailors shared the voyage with live animals to provide fresh meat, and, to relieve the boredom, they could look forward to a punch up on the high seas with a Spanish, Dutch or Portuguese vessel.

How can you tell this ship is equipped to fight?