Ropewalk

"The Ropewalk in Edam" by Max Liebermann

A ropewalk is a long straight narrow lane, or a covered pathway, where long strands of material are laid before being twisted into rope. Due to the length of some ropewalks, workers may use bicycles to get from one end to the other.

Many ropewalks were in the open air, while others were covered only by roofs.[1] Ropewalks historically frequently caught fire, as hemp dust ignites easily and burns fiercely. Rope was essential in sailing ships and the standard length for a British Naval Rope was 1,000 feet (300 m). A sailing ship such as HMS Victory required 31 miles (50 km) of rope.

  1. ^ "Montrose Park Cultural Landscape Report" (PDF). National Park Service. August 2004. p. 12. D-118. Retrieved 9 October 2018.