The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

CHAP. XXV.] OPPOSITION TO THE SURVEY. 295
instance of a clergyman, who made such alarming demonstra-
tions of his opposition, that the extraordinary expedient was
resorted to of surveying his property during the time he was
engaged in the pulpit. This was accomplished by having a
strong force of surveyors in readiness to commence their opera-
tions, and entering the clergyman's grounds on the one side at
the same moment that they saw him fairly off them on the other
by a weU-organized and systematic arrangement, each man con-
cluded his allotted task just as the reverend gentleman concluded
his sermon ; so that, before he left the church, the deed was
done, and the sinners had all decamped. Similar opposition
was offered at many other points, but ineffectually. The perse-
verance of Mr. R. Stephenson (who, in examining the country
to ascertain the best line, walked over the whole intervening dis-
tricts between London and Birmingham upwards of twenty
times), and the patient industry of his surveyors, under the
direction of Mr. Gooch, overcame all obstacles ; and by the
end of 1831, the requisite plans were deposited preparatory
to an application being made to Parliament in the ensuing ses-
sion.
The principal alterations made in the new line were at the
London end ; the terminus being changed from Maiden Lane to
a large piece of open land adjoining the Regent's Canal—the
site of the present London and Northwestern Goods Station
and also at Watford, where the direction of the line was altered
so as entirely to avoid the parks of Lords Essex and Clarendon.
This diversion, however, inflicted upon the public the incon-
venience of the Watford Tunnel, about a mile in length, and
upon the company a largely increased outlay for its construc-
tion. The Hemel Hempstead and Goddesden valleys were also
avoided, and the line proceeded by the towns of Berkhampstead
and Tring. It was expected that these alterations would have
the effect of mitigating, if not of entirely averting, the power-
ful opposition of the landowners; but it was found that, on
the contrary, it was now more violent than ever, although all
grounds of complaint in regard to their parks and residences
had been entirely removed. The most exaggerated alarms con-
tinued to be entertained, especially by those who had never seen
; ;