The Road Anterior to Rails

The Road Anterior to Rail is an impressive work by Herring executed after he had moved to Meopham Park, near Tonbridge in Kent. With this move he decided to concentrate mainly on genre subjects. He was pleased with the move out of London, 'hay enough to pay the rent, and corn enough to keep the horses.' He was inspired by working in a good studio, a plentiful supply of human and equine models and the beautiful countryside surrounding him. It was noted after his move, 'in England, everything depends on a name, and judging by the superiority of his books, his pictures were enhanced at least fifty per cent in the market, since coming to Meopham.'
The subject shows a large stationary wagon with eight horses on a main road just outside the Philpots Inn. This is possibly on the road linking Kent to London. Two mail coaches pass one another with figures taking refreshment outside the inn. Philpots was a sub-manor within the manor of Dachurst and passed from the de Philpots family by marriage to the successful local yeoman Children family.