Machynlleth lies in a mountainous
part of west Wales on the first river crossing inland from the mouth of
the River Dyfi. The location of the town made early
transport very difficult.
Travel in rural areas depended
on the horse in the Victorian age.
Wealthy people could use their own carriages, and others could pay to
travel on the stage coaches. Few working
people could afford this and so they could only travel as far as they
could walk.
Horse-drawn tramways were in use locally
for many years to transport coal and lime, and to carry slate from the
quarries to the river port at Derwenlas.
The railway
came to Machynlleth in 1863, and, as in other areas, soon took most of
the local trade in carrying people and goods from the coaches and carriers.
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