History of Loughton

Loughton, High Road c1955
Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

History of Loughton >> Loughton Snippets

Loughton Snippets

When researching for this website we often find a little snippet of information on a location or subject which may be of interest. Here is one for Loughton

Times Oct 11 1804

A very shocking accident took place a short time ago:- A Mr. Mellish was driving to Newmarket his coach and four, he came up with a higgler*, driving a chaise-cart, near Loughton, in Essex. The man was obstiuate, and would not suffer for Mr. Mellish to pass him; and, on driving his cart across the road to prevent him, forced a heifer that was on the road to run between the coach-horses, and threw all the four animals down.

On Mr. Mellish pursuing his journey, he overtook the man about half a mile further on the road, he evinced the same obstinacy as before, in driving across the road at a very fast rate; the wheel of the chaise caught a post, and threw the driver out of the cart. Mr. Mellish sent for a surgeon, and desired that the man be taken care of, but he died the next day.

*Higgler: An itinerant dealer