18th Century Sidewalks Are Single-File to Prevent Couples from Walking Side-by-Side

Lady Jane Stanely of Knutsford, Cheshire, UK, never married and was rather bitter about it. She sometimes saw couples walking next to each other down the sidewalks of her town and took it upon herself to end this public impropriety.

In the 1790s, at the urging of Lady Jane, the town of Knutsford narrowed its sidewalks so that it would be impossible to walk two abreast. Last year, the town decided that it was time to stop accommodating Lady Jane and made plans to widen the sidewalks. The Daily Telegraph reports:

Councillor Michael Jones, Conservative leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "I am all in favor of retaining our fantastic heritage, but this is one of those occasions when we can improve on the legacy of the past.
"We want to create a space which will be enjoyed by the residents – whether they are walking arm in arm or not – while also attracting visitors and enabling businesses in the locality to thrive. The shops and businesses are a great asset to Cheshire East and the street merits and deserves enhancement works."