11,305 pounds 1s. 10d. was laid out on them. Mr. Thomas
Blunt, the Deputy Surveyor of the Forest, stated in 1788, in explanation
of such an outlay, "That there are two great roads leading across the
Forest, which have been made and kept in repair by the produce of timber
felled and sold for that purpose, and on which by far the greater part of
the expense for roads has been bestowed; the one enters the Forest at
Mitcheldean, and proceeds quite across the Forest to Coleford, the other
leads from Little Dean to Coleford. These two roads have been made
chiefly with a view to the convenience of the public, being the principal
roads from Gloucester to South Wales; neither of which roads, nor others
which have been made and amended at a considerable expense to the Crown,
are any way conducive to the preservation of the Forest, as they are but
of little use in the conveyance of timber felled for the use of the Navy,
the Navy timber in general being carried by a distinct road leading from
the Forest towards Blakeney, which induces him to believe that the roads
lately made are disadvantageous to the Forest, more carts and waggons
having been used since the making of the roads in the fetching and
carrying away of coal, greater quantities of timber being used in the
coalworks, and much more timber secretly conveyed away under the coal
than heretofore; which practice he believes might in a great measure be
prevented by the erecting of turnpike gates on the roads, the tolls
whereof would be fully sufficient to keep the roads in necessary repair."

But the Forest roads were still in so execrable a condition, being
impassable in the winter, and at other times perilous to the heavily
laden coal waggons and horses, always requiring large teams, according to
the unanimous testimony of the oldest residents, that a further outlay on
them, to the amount of 10,645 pounds, took place in carrying out the
provisions of the Act passed in 1795 "for amending, widening, improving,
and keeping in repair several roads in and through His Majesty's Forest
of Dean, and the waste lands thereto belonging, in the county of
Gloucester, and for turning, altering, and changing the course of the
said roads, and for making several new roads in the said Forest to lead
to certain places in and near the same; and also for amending, widening,
and keeping in repair certain roads leading from the said Forest to and
through several parts of the parish of Newland adjo