Bodies established to run toll roads and improve transport routes
This article is about road tolls in the United Kingdom between the 17th to 19th centuries. For other toll roads, see
Toll road.
Turnpike trusts were bodies set up by individual
acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road
tolls for maintaining the principal roads in
Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. At the peak, in the 1830s, over 1,000 trusts[1] administered around 30,000 miles (48,000 km) of turnpike road in England and Wales, taking tolls at almost 8,000 toll-gates and side-bars.[2]
During the early 19th century the concept of the turnpike trust was adopted and adapted to manage roads within the British Empire (Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa) and in the United States.[2]
The term "turnpike" originates from the similarity of the gate used to control access to the road, to the barriers once used to defend against attack by
cavalry (see cheval de frise). The turnpike consisted of a row of
pikes or bars, each sharpened at one end, and attached to horizontal members which were secured at one end to an upright pole or axle, which could be rotated to open or close the gate.[3]
Precursors to turnpike trusts
Pavage grants, originally made for paving the marketplace or streets of towns, began also to be used for maintaining some roads between towns in the 14th century. These grants were made by
letters patent, almost invariably for a limited term, presumably the time likely to be required to pay for the required works.[4]
Tudor statutes had placed responsibility on each
parishvestry to maintain all its roads. This arrangement was adequate for roads that the parishioners used themselves but proved unsatisfactory for the principal highways that were used by long-distance travellers and waggoners.[5] During the 17th century, the piecemeal approach to road maintenance caused acute problems on the main routes into London. As trade increased, the growing numbers of heavy carts and carriages led to serious deterioration in the state of these roads and this could not be remedied by the use of parish statute labour. A parliamentary bill was tabled in 1621/22 to relieve the parishes responsible for part of the Great North Road by imposing a scale of tolls on various sorts of traffic. The toll revenue was to be used in repairing the road, however, the bill was defeated. During the following forty years, the idea of making travellers contribute to the repair of roads was raised on several occasions.[6]
United Kingdom legislation
Road Repair (Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire) Act 1663
Many parishes continued to struggle to find funds to repair major roads and in
Hertfordshire,
way wardens on behalf of the vestries stood frequent trial at
quarter sessions for their failure to keep the Old North Road in a good state of repair. In 1656 the parish of
Radwell, Hertfordshire petitioned their local sessions for help to maintain their section of the Great North Road. Probably as a result judges on the Hertfordshire,
Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire circuit represented the matter to Parliament,[7] it then passed an
act that gave the local
justices of the peace powers to erect toll-gates on a section of the road, between
Wadesmill, Hertfordshire;
Caxton,
Cambridgeshire; and
Stilton,
Huntingdonshire for 11 years, the revenues so raised to be used for the maintenance of the road in their jurisdictions (
15 Cha. 2. c. 1).[7][6] The toll-gate erected at Wadesmill was the prototype in England. Parliament then gave similar powers to the justices in other counties in England and Wales.[7] An example is the first Turnpike Act for Surrey in 1696 (
8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 15), during the reign of
William III for enhanced repairs between
Reigate in Surrey and
Crawley in Sussex.[8] The act made provision to erect
turnpikes, and appoint toll collectors; also to appoint surveyors, who were authorized by order of the justices to borrow money at five per cent interest, on security of the tolls.[8]
The first turnpike trusts
The first scheme that had trustees who were not justices was established through a Turnpike Act in 1706 (
6 Ann. c. 4) for a section of the London-
Chester road between Fornhill (near
Hockliffe) and
Stony Stratford.[9] The basic principle was that the trustees would manage resources from the several parishes through which the highway passed, augment this with tolls from users from outside the parishes and apply the whole to the maintenance of the main highway. This became the pattern for the turnpiking of a growing number of highways, sought by those who wished to improve flow of commerce through their part of a county.[7]
The proposal to turnpike a particular section of road was normally a local initiative and a separate Act of Parliament was required to create each trust. The Act gave the trustees responsibility for maintaining a specified part of the existing highway. It provided them with powers to achieve this; the right to collect tolls from those using the road was particularly important. Local gentlemen, clergy and merchants were nominated as trustees and they appointed a clerk, a treasurer and a surveyor to actually administer and maintain the highway. These officers were paid by the trust. Trustees were not paid, though they derived indirect benefits from the better transport, which improved access to markets and led to increases in rental income and trade.[10]
The first action of a new trust was to erect turnpike gates at which a fixed toll was charged. The Act gave a maximum toll allowable for each class of vehicle or animal – for instance one shilling and six pence for a coach pulled by four horses, a penny for an unladen horse and ten pence for a drove of 20 cows. The trustees could call on a portion of the statute duty from the parishes, either as labour or by a cash payment. The trust applied the income to pay for labour and materials to maintain the road. They were also able to mortgage future tolls to raise loans for new structures and for more substantial improvements to the existing highway.[10]
The trusts applied some funds to erecting
tollhouses that accommodated the pikeman or toll-collector beside the turnpike gate. Although trusts initially organised the collection of tolls directly, it became common for them to auction a lease to collect tolls. Specialist toll-farmers would make a fixed payment to the trust for the lease and then organise the day-to-day collection of the money, leaving themselves with a profit on their operations over a year.[10]
The powers of a trust were limited, normally to 21 years, after which it was assumed that the responsibility for the now-improved road would be handed back to the parishes. However, trusts routinely sought new powers before this time limit, usually citing the need to pay off the debts incurred in repairing damage caused by a rising volume of traffic, or in building new sections of road.[10]
The growth of the turnpike system
During the first three decades of the 18th century, sections of the main radial roads into London were put under the control of individual turnpike trusts. The pace at which new turnpikes were created picked up in the 1750s as trusts were formed to maintain the cross-routes between the Great Roads radiating from London. Roads leading into some provincial towns, particularly in Western England, were put under single trusts and key roads in
Wales were turnpiked. In South Wales, the roads of complete counties were put under single turnpike trusts in the 1760s. A further surge of trust formation occurred in the 1770s, with the turnpiking of subsidiary connecting roads, routes over new bridges, new routes in the growing industrial areas and roads in
Scotland. About 150 trusts were established by 1750; by 1772 a further 400 were established and, in 1800, there were over 700 trusts.[11] In 1825 about 1,000 trusts controlled 18,000 miles (29,000 km) of road in England and Wales.[12]
An Act to explain, amend, and reduce into one Act of Parliament, the General Laws now in Being, for regulating the Turnpike Roads of this Kingdom; and for other Purposes therein mentioned.
An Act to explain, amend, and reduce into One Act of Parliament, the General Laws now in being for regulating the Turnpike Roads in that Part of Great Britain called England; and for other Purposes.
The Acts for these new trusts and the renewal Acts for the earlier trusts incorporated a growing list of powers and responsibilities. The Turnpike Acts of 1743 (
17 Geo. 2. c. 4) and 1766 (
7 Geo. 3. c. 40) and the General Turnpike Act of 1773 (
13 Geo. 3. c. 84) made statutory provision for the erection of
milestones along the turnpike roads indicating the distance between the main towns on the road. Users of the road were obliged to follow what were to become rules of the road, such as driving on the left and not damaging the road surface. Trusts could take additional tolls during the summer to pay for watering the road in order to lay the dust thrown up by fast-moving vehicles. Parliament also passed a few general Turnpike Acts dealing with the administration of the trusts and restrictions on the width of wheels – narrow wheels were said to cause a disproportionate amount of damage to the road.[13][14]
The rate at which new trusts were created slowed in the early 19th century but the existing trusts were making major investments in highway improvement. The government had been directly involved in the building of military roads in Scotland following a
rebellion in 1745, but the first national initiative was a scheme to aid communications with
Ireland. Between 1815 and 1826
Thomas Telford undertook a major reorganization of the existing trusts along the London to
Holyhead Road, and the construction of large sections of new road to avoid hindrances, particularly in North Wales.[15]
By 1838 the turnpike trusts in England were collecting £1.5 million per year from leasing the collection of tolls but had a cumulative debt of £7 million, mainly as mortgages.[16] Even at its greatest extent, the turnpike system only administered a fifth of the roads in Britain; the majority being maintained by the parishes. A trust would typically be responsible for about 20 miles (32 km) of highway, although exceptions such as the
Exeter Turnpike Trust controlled 147 miles (237 km) of roads radiating from the city. On the
Bath Road for instance, a traveller from London to the head of the
Thames Valley in Wiltshire would pass through the jurisdiction of seven trusts, paying a toll at the gates of each. Although a few trusts built new bridges (e.g. at
Shillingford over the Thames), most bridges remained a county responsibility. A few bridges were built with private funds and tolls taken at these (e.g., the present
Swinford Toll Bridge over the Thames).
Operation of turnpike trusts
Quality
The quality of early turnpike roads was varied.[17] Although turnpiking did result in some improvement to each highway, the technologies used to deal with geological features, drainage, and the effects of weather, were all in their infancy. Road construction improved slowly, initially through the efforts of individual surveyors such as
John Metcalf in
Yorkshire in the 1760s. 19th-century engineers made great advances, notably
Thomas Telford and
John Loudon McAdam. [18]
The engineering work of Telford on the
Holyhead Road (now the A5) in the 1820s reduced the journey time of the London
mail coach from 45 hours to just 27 hours, and the best mail coach speeds rose from 5-6 mph (8–10 km/h) to 9-10 mph (14–16 km/h). McAdam and his sons were employed as general surveyors (consultant engineers) to many of the main turnpike trusts in southern England. They recommended the building of new sections of road to avoid obstructions, eased steep slopes and directed the relaying of existing road-beds with carefully graded stones to create a dry, fast-running surface (known as
Macadamising). Coach design improved to take advantage of these better roads and in 1843 the London-to-
Exeter mail coach could complete the 170-mile (270-km) journey in 17 hours.
The introduction of toll gates had been resented by local communities which had freely used the routes for centuries. Early Acts had given magistrates powers to punish anyone damaging turnpike property, such as defacing milestones, breaking turnpike gates or avoiding tolls. Opposition was particularly intense in mountainous regions where good routes were scarce. In
Mid Wales in 1839, new tolls on old roads sparked protests known as the
Rebecca Riots. There were sporadic outbursts of vandalism and violent confrontation by gangs of 50 to 100 or more local men, and gatekeepers were told that if they resisted they would be killed. In 1844, the ringleaders were caught and
transported to Australia as convicts.[19] However, the result was that toll gates were dismantled and the trusts abolished in the six counties of
South Wales, their powers being transferred to a roads board for each county.[20]
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from the North End of Bridgeford Lane, in the County of Nottingham, to and through several Towns and Places, in the Counties of Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, and through Rockingham to the Bowling Green at Kettering in the County of Northampton.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from the Borough of Leicester, to and by the North Side of the Town of Uppingham, in the County of Rutland, and to Wansford in the County of Northampton, and from thence to Peterborough in the said County of Northampton.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from the North Turnpike Road near Scot Gate, otherwise Scot Gate, in the Town of Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, to Oakham, in the County of Rutland; and from Oakham, through Burley, to a Gate on the North Side of a certain Close in the said Lordship of Burley called Booth’s Close, adjoining to the Open Fields of Cottesmore, in the said County of Rutland.
Shropshire
Atcham to Dorrington Turnpike Trust
Audem and Woore Turnpike Trust
Bishops Castle Turnpike Trust
Bridgnorth and Shifnal Turnpike Trust
Bridgnorth to Black Brook Turnpike Trust
Bridgnorth Morvill Turnpike Trust
Bridgnorth Smithy Brook Turnpike Trust
Burlton and Llanymynech Turnpike Trust
Cleobury Mortimer District Turnpike Trust
Cleobury North and Ditton Priors Turnpike Trust
Coalbrookdale and Wellington Turnpike Trust
Ellesmere District of Shrewsbury and Wrexham, and Harmer Hill Branch Turnpike Trust
Honington and Hilton Turnpike Trust
Ironbridge (Buildwas to Tern Bridges) Turnpike Trust
Kelsall to Whiston Cross Turnpike Trust
King-Street Turnpike Trust
Ludlow Turnpike Trust
Madeley Turnpike Trust
Marchwiaill, Bangor Whitchurch Turnpike Trust
Ministerley to Churchstoke Turnpike Trust
Much Wenlock to Church Stretton Turnpike Trust
Newport and Ternhill Turnpike Trust
Oswestry Turnpike Trust
Preston Brockhurst Turnpike Trust
Shawbury Turnpike Trust
Shifnal District of Holyhead Road Turnpike Trust
Shrewsbury to Baschurch Turnpike Trust
Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth Turnpike Trust
Shrewsbury to Church Stretton and Condover Turnpike Trust
Shrewsbury to Longden and Castle Pulverbach Turnpike Trust
Shrewsbury to Minsterley Turnpike Trust
Shrewsbury to Welshpool Turnpike Trust
Shrewsbury to Westbury Turnpike Trust
Wall under Haywood to Blackwood Turnpike Trust
Watling Street, By Road Turnpike Trust
Watling Street, Shrewsbury District and Branch Turnpike Trust
Watling Street, Wellington District Turnpike Trust
Welch Gate and Cotton Hill to Shrewsbury Turnpike Trust
An Act for repairing and widening the High Road leading from Ashborne in the County of Derby, to the Town of Leek in the County of Stafford, and from Ryecroft Gate upon Rushton Common to Congleton in the County of Chester, and also the Road leading from Blyth Marsh in the County of Stafford, through Cheadle, Oakamoor, and Blore, to the Turnpike Road from Ashborne to Buxton near Thorp in the County of Derby.
An Act for repairing the Road from Ashby de la Zouch in the County of Leicester, through Burton upon Trent in the County of Stafford, and to The Cock Inn in Tutbury in the said County.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road leading from High Bullen in Wednesbury, to the further End of Darlaston Lane next the Portway; and from thence, through Bilston, to the further End of Gibbet Lane, and several other Roads leading to and from Bilston, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing the several Roads leading from Birmingham, through the Town of Wednesbury, to a Place called High Bullen, and to Great Bridge, and from thence to the End of Gibbet Lane adjoining to the Township of Bilson, and from Great Bridge, through Dudley, to King's Winsford, and to the further End of Brittell Lane, in the Counties of Warwick, Stafford, and Worcester.
Burton on Trent (Alrewas and Shenstone) Turnpike Trust
An Act for repairing, widening, turning, and altering the Roads from Butterton Moor End, near Oncott, in the County of Stafford, to the Three Mile Stone in the Turnpike Road leading from Buxton to Ashborne, in the County of Derby; and from Blackton Moor, in the County of Stafford, to the Turnpike Road leading from Buxton to Ashbourne, near Newhaven, in the County of Derby ; and from Warslow to Ecton Mine, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing and amending the Highways, between the Town or Village of Tittensor, and the most Northern Part of Talke on the Hill, in Butlane, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for amending and widening the Road from the Town of Stone to Wordsley Green Gate, and from the West End of Bilston Street in Wolverhampton to The High Street opposite The Old Bush in Dudley, and from a Place called Burnt Tree, near Dudley, to Birmingham, and from the Market Cross in Wolverhampton to Cannock, in the Counties of Stafford, Worcester, and Warwick.
An Act for amending and widening the Road from the Town of Stone to Wordsley Green Gate, and from the West End of Bilston Street in Wolverhampton to The High Street opposite The Old Bush in Dudley, and from a Place called Burnt Tree, near Dudley, to Birmingham, and from the Market Cross in Wolverhampton to Cannock, in the Counties of Stafford, Worcester, and Warwick.
Eccleshall, Newport and Watling Street Turnpike Trust
An Act for repairing and widening the Road leading from the Town of Stafford to Sandon in the County of Stafford, and several other Roads in the Counties of Salop and Stafford.
Featherbed Lane Kings Bromley Turnpike Trust
1762
Filleybrook Lane Branch of Rugeley Stone and Stafford Turnpike Trust
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Tunstall, in the County, of Stafford, to Bosley, in the County of Chester; and from Great Chell to Shelton, in the said County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Shelton to the Road between Cheadle and Leek, and from Bucknall to Weston Coyney, and from the Road between Cheadle and Leek to the Turnpike Road above Frogall Bridge, and from the same Road to the Road between Blyth Marsh and Thorp, at or near Ruchill Gate, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from High Bridges, in the County of Stafford, to Uttoxeter, and from Spath to Hanging Bridge, and from Tewnall's Lane to Yoxall Bridge, in the said County.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Lawton in the County of Chester, to Burslem and Newcastle under Lyne in the County of Stafford; and other Roads therein mentioned.
Leek and Hassop, Middlehills and Buxton Turnpike Trust
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Newcastle under Lyne to Hassop, and from Middle Hills to the Macclesfield Turnpike Road near Buxton; and also the Road branching out of the said first-mentioned Road at Cobridge to Burslem, and to the Uttoxeter Turnpike at Shelton, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for enlarging the Terms of Three Acts made in the Second, Seventeenth, and Twenty-eighth Years of His late Majesty, for repairing the Roads from Coleshill, through the City of Lichfield and the Town of Stone to the End of the County of Stafford, in the Road leading towards Chester, and several other Roads in the said Acts mentioned, in the Counties of Warwick and Stafford, and City and County of the City of Lichfield, and for making more effectual Provision for repairing and widening the said Roads, and other Roads therein mentioned, in the said County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from the End of the Turnpike Road in Shawbury, in the County of Salop, to Drayton in Hales, in the said County, and from thence to Newcastle under Line, in the County of Stafford; and from Shawbury aforesaid to the Turnpike Road in High Ercall, in the said County of Salop; and from Shawbury aforesaid to Wem, in the said County, and from thence to the Turnpike Road in Sandford, in the said County.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Newcastle under Lyne to Hassop, and from Middle Hills to the Macclesfield Turnpike Road near Buxton; and also the Road branching out of the said first-mentioned Road at Cobridge to Burslem, and to the Uttoxeter Turnpike at Shelton, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road leading from the Bottom of Church Lane in the Town of Newcastle under Lane in the County of Stafford, to the Turnpike Road leading from Woor to Chester near the Town of Nantwich in the County of Chester, and from Chesterton through Alderley and Balterly to Ghorsly Hill.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from the Bars at Boughton, within the Liberties of the City of Chester, to Whitchurch, and from thence to Newport in the County of Salop, to Ivetsey Bank in the County of Stafford, and from thence to Castle Bromwich and Stone Bridge in the Parish of Hampton on Arden, in the County of Warwick, and from Castle Bromwich to Birmingham in the same County.
An Act for repairing the Roads leading from Cannals Gate to the City of Lichfield, and from the said City to Stone, and from thence to the End of the County of Stafford, in the Post Road towards Chester; and also from the Town of Burton upon Trent to the said City of Lichfield, and from thence to WoodEnd and Ogley Hay; and also from the said City of Lichfield to High Bridges, in the County of Stafford, and the County of the said City of Lichfield.
An Act for repairing, widening, and altering, the Road from Sandon in the County of Stafford, to Bullock Smithy in the County of Chester; and from Hilderstone to Draycott in the Moors, and from Wetley Rocks to Tean in the said County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from High Bridges, in the County of Stafford, to Uttoxeter, and from Spath to Hanging Bridge, and from Tewnall's Lane to Yoxall Bridge, in the said County.
Stafford, Church Bridge, Uttoxeter and Newport Turnpike Trust
An Act for repairing, widening, diverting, and improving the Road from Stafford to Church Bridge, and also the Road from Stafford to Uttoxeter, all in the County of Stafford, and also the Road from Stafford to Newport, in the County of Salop.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road leading from the Town of Stafford to Sandon in the County of Stafford, and several other Roads in the Counties of Salop and Stafford.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Stone to Lane End, and to the Road between Leek and Sandon, on Meir Heath, and from thence to Blythe Bridge; and also from Meir to Trentham, and from thence to Stableford Bridge, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for amending and widening the Road from the Town of Stone to Wordsley Green Gate, and from the West End of Bilston Street in Wolverhampton to The High Street opposite The Old Bush in Dudley, and from a Place called Burnt Tree, near Dudley, to Birmingham, and from the Market Cross in Wolverhampton to Cannock, in the Counties of Stafford, Worcester, and Warwick.
An Act for repairing the Roads leading from Sutton Colefield Common to the Town of Walsall, and from Sneals Green to Walsall, and from Walsall to Park Brook, which divides the Parishes of Wolverhampton and Walsall, and from Gibbet Lane to Wolverhampton, and from Compton to the End of the County of Stafford, and from Wolverhampton to The Wergs, and from thence to Shiffnal, and from The Wergs to Hales Heath, and from Wolverhampton to Cannock Wood, in the Road to Litchfield.
An Act for repairing and widening several Roads leading to and through the Borough of Tamworth, and other Roads, therein mentioned, in the Counties of Stafford, Warwick, and Derby.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Tunstall, in the County, of Stafford, to Bosley, in the County of Chester; and from Great Chell to Shelton, in the said County of Stafford.
An Act for amending, widening, altering, and keeping in Repair the Road leading from Uttoxeter to the Westwardly Part of Hardiwick Heath, and for setting out and making a new Road from thence to Stoke near Stone; and for amending, widening, altering, and keeping in Repair the Road leading from the Village of Millwich to Sandon, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Muckley Corner to Walsall and Wednesbury, and to Leigh Brook and Ocker Hill, and several other Roads, in the County of Stafford.
An Act for amending, widening, turning, and keeping in Repair the Road leading from the Town of Walsall to Hamstead Bridge, and the Road leading from the said Town to a Common, called Sutton Coldfield, and the Road leading from the said Town to a certain Brook, called Park Brook, which divides the Parishes of Walsall and Wolverhampton, all in the County of Stafford.
An Act for repealing an Act passed in the Eleventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, for repairing and widening the Road from Stone to Lane End, and to the Road between Leek and Sandon, on Meir Heath, and from Meir to Trentham, and from thence to Stableford, in the County of Stafford, and for granting other Powers for those Purposes; and for repairing and improving the Road from a Place called Walton, in Stone aforesaid, to Eccleshall, in the said County of Stafford.
An Act for repairing the Roads leading from Sutton Colefield Common to the Town of Walsall, and from Sneals Green to Walsall, and from Walsall to Park Brook, which divides the Parishes of Wolverhampton and Walsall, and from Gibbet Lane to Wolverhampton, and from Compton to the End of the County of Stafford, and from Wolverhampton to The Wergs, and from thence to Shiffnal, and from The Wergs to Hales Heath, and from Wolverhampton to Cannock Wood, in the Road to Litchfield.
An Act for amending, widening, and keeping in Repair the Roads leading from Womborne to Prince's End, and from Gospel End to the Village of Over Penn, and from thence to the Turnpike Road leading from Wolverhampton to Stourbridge; and from Chitt's Grave to or near Prince's End; and from Can Lane to the Town of Bilston, in the County of Stafford.
Suffolk
Aldeburgh to Yoxford Turnpike Trust
Brandon and Barton Turnpike Trust
Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket Turnpike Trust
Bury St Edmunds to Cranwich Turnpike Trust
Claydon, Blakenham, Brockford and Stowmarket Turnpike Trust
Haverhill to Shelford Turnpike Trust
Ipswich to Debenham Turnpike Trust
Ipswich to Helmingham Turnpike Trust
Ipswich to South Town, and Darsham to Bungay Turnpike Trust
Ipswich to Stratford St Mary Turnpike Trust
Lakenheath and Hockwold Turnpike Trust
Little Yarmouth Turnpike Trust
Mildenhall Burntfen Turnpike Trust
Scole Bridge to Bury St Edmunds Turnpike Trust
South Town Turnpike Trust
Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds Turnpike Trust
Thetford and Newmarket Turnpike Trust
Woodbridge to Eye Turnpike Trust
Surrey
Alford and Guildford Turnpike Trust
Bagshot to Hertfordbridge Turnpike Trust
Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Deptford Turnpike Trust
Blackfriars to Newington Butts Turnpike Trust
Bramley and Ridgewick Turnpike Trust
Croydon and Reigate Turnpike Trust
Egham and Bagshot Turnpike Trust
Epsom, Ewell, Tooting etc Turnpike Trust
Gatton Lodge to Povey Cross Turnpike Trust
Godalming and Painshill Turnpike Trust
Godstone and Highgate Turnpike Trust
Guildford and Farnham Turnpike Trust
Haslemere Turnpike Trust
Kent Road to Deptford Turnpike Trust
Kingston and Leatherhead Turnpike Trust
Kingston and Sheetbridge Turnpike Trust
Leatherhead and Stoke next Guildford Turnpike Trust
Limpsfield Turnpike Trust
Ockley and Warnham Turnpike Trust
Reigate Turnpike Trust
Southwark to Kent Street Turnpike Trust
Surrey and Sussex Turnpike Trust
Surrey New Roads Turnpike Trust
Sussex
Alford Bars and Newbridge Turnpike Trust
Arundel to Petworth Turnpike Trust
Beech Down to Heathfield etc Turnpike Trust
Beeding to Old Shoreham Turnpike Trust
Billingshurst to Broadbridge Heath Turnpike Trust
Brede Turnpike Trust
Brighton and Newhaven Turnpike Trust
Brighton, Cuckfield and West Grimsted Turnpike Trust
Brighton, Shoreham and Lancing Turnpike Trust
Broil Park-Gate to Battle Turnpike Trust
Burwash to Ticehurst Turnpike Trust
Bury Turnpike Trust
Chichester, Dell Quay and Fernhurst Turnpike Trust
Cosham to Chichester Turnpike Trust
Cowfold to Henfield Turnpike Trust
Crouch Hill and Hurstpeirpoint Turnpike Trust
Ditcheling and Clayton Branch Turnpike Trust
Etchingham to Burwash Turnpike Trust
Ewhurst to Norian Turnpike Trust
Five Oaks Turnpike Trust
Flimwell to Hastings Turnpike Trust
Henfield Turnpike Trust
Henfield to Brighthelmston Turnpike Trust
Hodges and Cuckfield Turnpike Trust
Hollington and Hastings Turnpike Trust
Horley and Cuckfield Turnpike Trust
Horley Common to Uckfield Turnpike Trust
Horsebridge and Horsham Turnpike Trust
Horsham and Crawley Turnpike Trust
Horsham and Dorking Turnpike Trust
Horsham and Guildford Turnpike Trust
Horsham and Steyning Turnpike Trust
Hurstpierpoint and Cuckfield Turnpike Trust
Hurstpierpoint and Pontings Branch Turnpike Trust
Lewes and Brighthelmston Turnpike Trust
Lewes, Eastbourne and Hailsham Turnpike Trust
Malling Street to Wych Cross Turnpike Trust
Mayfield and Wadhurst Turnpike Trust
Midhurst and Sheetbridge Turnpike Trust
Milford to Portsmouth Road Turnpike Trust
New Chappel, Linfield and Brighton Turnpike Trust
Offham and Ditcheling Turnpike Trust
Offham to Witch Cross Turnpike Trust
Petworth Turnpike Trust
Pulborough to Horsham Turnpike Trust
Pyecombe and Hickstead Turnpike Trust
Ringmer and Hurst Green Turnpike Trust
Robertsbridge Clappers Turnpike Trust
Rowhook Branch Turnpike Trust
Rye Turnpike Trust
Shipley Turnpike Trust
Sloughham to West Grinstead Turnpike Trust
South Malling to Alfiston Turnpike Trust
St Leonards and Sedlescomb Turnpike Trust
Staplecross Turnpike Trust
Stoke, Guildford, Arundell Turnpike Trust
Stonegate Turnpike Trust
Storrington and Ball's Hut Turnpike Trust
Storrington and Wiston Turnpike Trust
Tunbridge Wells and Mayfield Turnpike Trust
Uckfield and Tunbridge Wells Turnpike Trust
Worthing Turnpike Trust
Worthing and Lancing Turnpike Trust
Warwickshire
Alcester and Wootton Turnpike Trust
Allesley to Canwell Turnpike Trust
Ansley and Whitacre Turnpike Trust
Arrow, Pot Hook's End, Dunnington and Crabb's Cross Turnpike Trust
Bentley Branch Turnpike Trust
Bentley Lane Turnpike Trust
Birmingham to Blakedown Pool Turnpike Trust
Birmingham to Stonebridge Turnpike Trust
Birmingham to Stratford Turnpike Trust
Birmingham to Watford Gap Turnpike Trust
Birmingham, Warwick and Warmington Turnpike Trust
Broad Campden Hill to Halford Bridge Turnpike Trust
Castle Bromwich and Birmingham Turnpike Trust
Coventry Turnpike Trust
Coventry and Over Whiteacre Turnpike Trust
Coventry and Stoney Stanton Turnpike Trust
Coventry and Warwick Turnpike Trust
Coventry and Wolvey Turnpike Trust
Dunchurch and Southam Turnpike Trust
Dunchurch and Stonebridge Turnpike Trust
Evesham and Alcester Turnpike Trust
Finford Bridge and Banbury Turnpike Trust
Hatton Turnpike Trust
Hinckley and Coventry Turnpike Trust
Mancetter to Wolvey Heath Turnpike Trust
Northfield to Wootton Turnpike Trust
Rugby to Hinckley Turnpike Trust
Rugby to Kilworth Turnpike Trust
Rugby to Lutterworth Turnpike Trust
Rugby to Warwick Turnpike Trust
Southam to Kineton Turnpike Trust
Spernal Ash Turnpike Trust
Stonebridge to Kenilworth Turnpike Trust
Stratford to Bromsgrove Turnpike Trust
Stratford to Edgehill Turnpike Trust
Stratford to Long Compton Turnpike Trust
Upton, Great Kington and Wellesbourne Turnpike Trust
Warwick to Paddle Brook and Stratford Turnpike Trust
Watling Street Turnpike Trust
Wellesbourne and Stratford Turnpike Trust
Westmorland
Ambleside Turnpike Trust
Appleby and Kendal Turnpike Trust
Brough and Bowes Turnpike Trust
Brough and Eamont Bridge Turnpike Trust
Brough and Middleton Turnpike Trust
Heronsdyke and Eamont Bridge Turnpike Trust
Ireby to Kirkby Lonsdale, Milnthorpe etc Turnpike Trust
Kirkby Stephen and Hawes Turnpike Trust
Maiden Castle and Barrows Brow Turnpike Trust
Milnthorpe Turnpike Trust
Ulveston to Heversham Turnpike Trust
Wiltshire
Worcestershire
Birmingham to Bromsgrove Turnpike Trust
Dog Lane Gate (Bewdley) Turnpike Trust
Droitwich Turnpike Trust
Dudley and Brettell Lane Turnpike Trust
Dudley and New Inn Turnpike Trust
Dudley and Pedmore Turnpike Trust
Dudley and Rowley Regis Turnpike Trust
Dudley, Halesowen and Bromsgrove Turnpike Trust
Evesham and Alcester Turnpike Trust
Evesham Turnpike Trust
Evesham Second District Turnpike Trust
Hatton to Bromsgrove Turnpike Trust
Hundred House Turnpike Trust
Inning's Lane (from Kidderminster) Turnpike Trust
Kidderminster Turnpike Trust
Mickleton and Broadway and Chipping Campden Turnpike Trust
Overbury to London Road Turnpike Trust
Pershore Turnpike Trust
Stourbridge Turnpike Trust
Stourbridge to Worfield Turnpike Trust
Tenbury Turnpike Trust
Tinker's Gate (Bewdley) Turnpike Trust
Upton-upon-Severn Turnpike Trust
Welch Gate (Bewdley) Turnpike Trust
Worcester Turnpike Trust
Yorkshire
East Riding
Beverley to Kendal House Turnpike Trust
Beverley to Kexby Bridge Turnpike Trust
Beverley, Hessle and North Cave Turnpike Trust
Brough Ferry Turnpike Trust
Elloughton to Coney Clappers Turnpike Trust
Hull and Beverley Turnpike Trust
Hull and Hedon Turnpike Trust
Hull and Hessle and Ferriby Turnpike Trust
Hull and Kirk Ella Turnpike Trust
Leven to Beverley Turnpike Trust
Molescroft Turnpike Trust
Ottringham to Sunk Island Turnpike Trust
Patrington Turnpike Trust
White-Cross Turnpike Trust
Wyton and Flinton Turnpike Trust
York to Kexby Bridge, Grimston & Stonedale End Turnpike Trust
North Riding
Boroughbridge and Durham Turnpike Trust
Boroughbridge to Catterick Turnpike Trust
Gatherby Moor to Staindrop Turnpike Trust
Malton and Pickering Turnpike Trust
Middleton-tyas Lane to Greta Bridge and Bowes Turnpike Trust
Red House and Crofton Turnpike Trust
Reeth and Tan Hill Turnpike Trust
Richmond and Lancaster Turnpike Trust
Richmond to Lucy Cross Turnpike Trust
Richmond to Reeth Turnpike Trust
Thirsk Turnpike Trust
Thirsk and Masham Turnpike Trust
Thirsk and Yarm Turnpike Trust
Whitby and Middleton Turnpike Trust
Winston Bridge Turnpike Trust
York to Oswaldkirk Bank Top Turnpike Trust
York to Scarborough Turnpike Trust
West Riding
Almondbury to Austonley Turnpike Trust
Balby to Worksop Turnpike Trust
Bampton to Mexborough Turnpike Trust
Barnby Moor to Rotherham Turnpike Trust
Barnsdale and Leeds Turnpike Trust
Barnsley and Grange Moor Turnpike Trust
Barnsley and Pontefract Turnpike Trust
Barnsley and Shepley Lane Head Turnpike Trust
Barnsley to Cudworth Bridge Turnpike Trust
Bawtry and Selby Turnpike Trust
Bawtry and Tinsley Turnpike Trust
Birstall and Huddersfield Turnpike Trust
Bradford and Eccleshill Turnpike Trust
Bradford and Huddersfield Turnpike Trust
Bradford and Thornton Turnpike Trust
Bradford and Wakefield Turnpike Trust
Bradford to Colne Turnpike Trust
Bradford to Heckmondwyke Turnpike Trust
Brighouse Turnpike Trust
Brighouse and Denholme Gate Turnpike Trust
Chadderton to Huddersfield Turnpike Trust
Collingham and York Turnpike Trust
Colne to Broughton Turnpike Trust
Dewsbury and Elland Turnpike Trust
Dewsbury and Leeds Turnpike Trust
Doncaster and Bawtry Turnpike Trust
Doncaster and Salter's Brook Turnpike Trust
Doncaster and Selby Turnpike Trust
Doncaster and Tadcaster Turnpike Trust
Doncaster and Thorne Turnpike Trust
Doncaster to Boroughbridge Turnpike Trust
Doncaster to Wakefield Turnpike Trust
Dudley Hill, Killinghall and Harrogate Turnpike Trust
An Act to continue for One Year from the passing of this Act, and thenceforth until the End of the then next Session of Parliament, the several Acts for regulating the Turnpike Roads in Ireland.
An Act to continue to the First Day of October One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, and to the End of the then next Session of Parliament, certain Turnpike Acts.
An Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts, and to make further Provisions concerning Turnpike Roads.
An Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts, and to make further provisions concerning Turnpike Roads.
An Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts, and to make further provisions concerning Turnpike Roads.
By the early Victorian period toll gates were perceived as an impediment to free trade. The multitude of small trusts were frequently charged with being inefficient in use of resources and potentially suffered from petty corruption.
The
railway era spelt disaster for most turnpike trusts. Although some trusts in districts not served by railways managed to increase revenue, most did not. In 1829, the year before the
Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened, the Warrington and Lower Irlam Trust had receipts of £1,680 but, by 1834, this had fallen to £332. The Bolton and Blackburn Trust had an income of £3,998 in 1846, but in 1847 following the completion of a
railway between the two towns, this had fallen to £3,077 and, in 1849, £1,185.[21]
The debts of many trusts became significant; forced mergers of solvent and debt-laden trusts became frequent, and by the 1870s it was feasible for Parliament to close the trusts progressively without leaving an unacceptable financial burden on local communities. From 1871, all applications for renewal were sent to the Turnpike Trust Commission. This arranged for existing acts to continue, but with the objective of discharging the debt, and returning the roads to local administration, which was by then by
highway boards. The
Local Government Act 1888 gave responsibility for maintaining main roads to
county councils and
county borough councils. When a trust was ended, there were often great celebrations as the gates were thrown open. The assets of the trust, such as tollhouses, gates and sections of surplus land beside the road were auctioned off to reduce the debt, and mortgagees were paid at whatever rate in the pound the funds would allow.
The legacy of the turnpike trust is the network of roads that still form the framework of the main road system in Britain. In addition, many roadside features such as milestones and tollhouses have survived,[22] despite no longer having any function in the modern road management system.
Gallery
Poster advertising the letting of tolls, 1826.
The surviving Copper Castle Tollhouse on the
Honiton Turnpike.
A surviving milestone at Beedon on the Chilton Pond to Newtown River Turnpike.
Milepost on the
Keighley and Kendal Turnpike at Gargrave: Settle 10 3/4, Kendal 40, Skipton 4 ¾ and Keighley 14 miles.
A stagecoach approaching
Oxford along the
Henley Turnpike Road. The dust is thrown up from the
Macadamised surface. Early 1800s.
Turnpike trusts in Greater Manchester – describes the trusts which operated within Greater Manchester, from the 0.5 miles (800 m) long Little Lever Trust to the 22 miles (35 km) Manchester to Saltersbrook Trust.
Bateman, J.; Welsby, W. N. (1854). The General Turnpike Road Acts. London: Hedges & Smith.
Bogart, Dan (2017). Shaw-Taylor, L.; Bogart, D.; Satchell, M. (eds.).
"The Turnpike Roads of England and Wales"(PDF). The Online Historical Atlas of Transport, Urbanization and Economic Development in England and Wales c. 1680-1911. Cambridge University. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
Harvey, Edward (2010). "Pavage grants and urban street paving in medieval England, 1249-1462". The Journal of Transport History. 31 (2). London: Sage: 151–163.
doi:
10.7227/TJTH.31.2.3.
ISSN0022-5266.
S2CID167347539.
Friar, Stephen (2001). The Sutton Companion to Local History. Sutton Publishing.
ISBN0-7509-2723-2.
Pawson, E. (1977). Transport and Economy: the turnpike roads of eighteenth century England.
Riden, Philip (1987). Record Sources for Local History. B. T. Batsford Ltd.
ISBN0-7134-4726-5.
Searle, M. (1930). Turnpikes and Toll Bars (Limited ed.). Hutchinson & Co.
Tupling, G. H. (1952). "The Turnpike Trusts of Lancashire". Memoirs and Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, Session 1952-1953. 94.