Drovers Roads and Jolly Drovers Pub

Have you ever wandered how the Jolly Drovers got its name?

Have you noticed tall trees by this and other pubs?

Drovers roads were the routes for droving livestock on foot to market. Many droveways started in Wales, and the drovers, many of whom came from Wales, accompanied the beasts on foot or on horseback. Sheep, cattle, pigs, turkeys and geese were taken long distances. The drovers used dogs to help herd the animals.

Drovers Roads – swanbournehistory.co.uk

Drovers’ roads are often wider than other roads, able to accommodate large herds or flocks. Packhorse ways were quite narrow as the horses moved in single file, whereas drove roads were at least 40 feet (12 m) and up to 90 feet (27 m) wide. In the United Kingdom, where many original drovers’ roads have been converted into single carriageway metalled roads, unusually wide verges often give an indication of the road’s origin. In Wales, the start of many droveways, drovers’ roads are often recognisable by being deeply set into the countryside, with high earth walls or hedges. The most characteristic feature of these roads is the occasional sharp turn in the road, which provided cover for animals and men in severe rain or snow.[4] Some drovers’ roads crossed mountains.

It is likely that the so-called Roman Steps in the Rhinogydd in Wales is an example of a drove road.

Source Wikkipedua Drovers’ road – Wikipedia

Another blog post on Drovers Roads History Feature: Retracing the ‘Much Traveled’ Drovers Road | PAPA (preservationthroughart.org)

Old picture of Jolly Drovers Pub date and photographer currently unconfirmed (credit can be added if information provided)
More recent picture of the Jolly Drovers taken by Darren Dixon

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.