The census shows us that Harlow was a wealthy area because the amount of people employed and how many people to one house. The census also shows how many houses had servants and what sort of jobs there were. In the main there were only two people to a house. The census shows us what sort of jobs there were for example; brewer, butcher, shoemaker and servant. With the two censuses it shows us how Harlow grew over the years between 1841 to 1871 and where people were born so we know that not everyone was born in Harlow and had moved here, which is another sign of work and wealth. The fact that there were not a lot of people to one house is a sign of wealth because they can afford to buy a house for themselves.
The map in 1777 shows us the London to Cambridge road. Its shows us how and where business started out for example The Green Man and The George which are pubs. The map of Harlow in 1873 shows the road after it had been straightened and where businesses and employment moved. The reason for the road being straightened is because they thought it was in a muggy area and local businessmen thought it would be better to straighten it and more people would use it because of the river as well.
The evidence of the coaching trade in Harlow which is still here today is the archways which are signs of stables, the old forge, The George, signs of inns and travel, The Green Man, Mull Hurst mews and the malt house where brewing went on. Fore street and Market Street is evidence because they were on the London to Cambridge road after it got straightened, on Market Street there would have been a market for visitors travelling past to Cambridge or London. They would have bought goods from it. Fore street and Market Street would have had cycling shops, blacksmiths, pubs and inns, bakers and so on.
The Bury was for making the beer and other alcohols, which gave business to farmers. This is because of the coaching trade on the London to Cambridge road which again is evidence supporting the view.
The names of the surviving pubs are The Chequers, The Green Man, The Crown, The George and The Marquis of Granby, which is another source of evidence. Fore street did not lose its shops until the new town and railway, which is evidence that Harlow was wealthy without the coaching trade.
Local businessmen such a J.Perry Watington improved the area and the almshouses. Businessmen built a new fire station, schools and police station this is caused a snowball effect.
The river Stort was another reason for the growth in Harlow because it was a form of communication and because the river was canalised it improved the trade, it was also the main water supply in Harlow. The river stort got canalised between the 18th and 19th century, it got canalised so that people could trade and transport things through the river, they would trade goods such as pottery.
Another sign of wealth is that most houses were built with windows, and because Harlow was a wealthy area more and more people moved to the area, which is also a reason for growth.
In conclusion you can say that the coaching trade played a very large part in the growth of Harlow, but the geography also plays a major part, without its location halfway between London and Cambridge and its ability to supply the things the coaching trade required; food, drink and accommodation for travellers and coachmen, plus stables and blacksmiths for the coaching trade, the growth brought about by the coaching trade would never have happened.