Why were the roads in Britain in the 1800s not suitable for transporting heavy goods?

In the 1800s, Britain's roads were often unpaved, poorly maintained, and riddled with potholes, making them unsuitable for transporting heavy goods. The surfaces were typically made of dirt or gravel, which would become muddy and impassable in wet weather. Additionally, the narrowness of many roads limited the passage of larger vehicles, while the lack of standardized weights and measures further complicated transport logistics. As a result, heavy goods were more efficiently moved via rivers and canals until railway systems began to develop later in the century.