Event Name: The Coaching Days of England. A Talk by Michael Astrop

Description:  Some of you may recall Michael’s fascinating talk on Inn signs so we’re pleased to invite him back for an in depth look at the romance and commerce of this exciting period of English transport history. It looks at the early days of coach use, over poor-quality roads until the introduction of the toll roads network, which enabled an intricate network of routes to be developed. The establishment of the coaching inn with the sheer size of the resources needed to house and organise hundreds of horses along with the necessary supporting trades. A broad look at the highway men and women with the impact they had on travel, as well as, how the different levels of society responded to this form of communal or individual of travel.

Date:    Tuesday October 20th 2026

Time:     2.00pm

Location:  Ashday Lea Masonic Hall, Rawtenstall  BB4 6QX

Accessibility:  Disabled Access

 Directions: Follow this link

Suggested Donation:  £5 members  £6 non-members

Refreshments: Tea, coffee and biscuits included