The packhorse trains have long vanished from our countryside but before the advent of modern roads, canals or steam trains they were a familiar and essential way to transport goods across the land.
The trained packhorses or sumpters, to give them their old name, could pick their way over rough terrain and along lonely tracks where wagons and carts could not go. Their disadvantage was that very heavy loads could not be carried by individual animals and then wagons were needed. However, the individual horses or, indeed, mules, ponies or donkeys, were strong and could still carry loads up to about 30% of their body weight.
Also, the packhorses needed to be trained to bear the load weight, to wear special harness to help balance the goods on their backs, especially on slopes, and also to follow each other quietly in single file. Most sumpters were not ridden by people but some were trained for both purposes.
There was usually a group of men who accompanied the packhorses, especially on longer journeys. This was not just to care for the animals and goods but to deter would-be thieves.
Although the horses could pick their way over rough terrain, it was usual to also use the ancient drove roads over which livestock was driven from farms to market. Narrow packhorse bridges are an old and interesting feature of the British landscape over which the animals could easily cross rivers on their journeys. A very good local example can be found in the village of Moulton, where it straddles the river Kennett.
This was on the old route between Bury St. Edmunds and Cambridge. Today, the bridge’s four arches look rather strange over the trickle which usually runs beneath it. However, the 15th century bridge is a large example of its kind, able to take a cart, rather than just horses and the river was once much larger and was navigable, so goods could be brought there by boat.
Even today, the Kennett can surprise and occasionally the river runs deeply and forcefully under those arches. At times it is powerful enough to lift cars impeding its way or strand those, without respect for its power, who drive into the flood. I saw this myself a few years ago when I went there to take pictures during a flood and discovered someone stuck inside a car in the water who did not have a ‘phone signal to call for help!
History
The Packhorse Trains by Sandra Easom, Newmarket Local History Society
