The Hyde Park Gate in London, erected by the Kensington Turnpike Trust. This was the first toll point encountered along the Bath Road, upon leaving London.

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]

Turnpikes declined with the coming of the railways and then the Local Government Act 1888 gave responsibility for maintaining main roads to county councils and county borough councils.

Etymology

Chevaux de frise, Siege of Petersburg, American Civil War

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

The Great North Road near Highgate on the approach to London before turnpiking. The highway was deeply rutted and spread onto adjoining land.

Pavage grants, originally made for paving the marketplace or streets of towns, began also to be used for maintaining some roads between towns in the 14th century.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 parish vestry 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]

Road Repair (Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire) Act 1663
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long titleAn Act for repairing the Highwayes within the Countyes of Hertford Cambridge and Huntington.
Citation15 Cha. 2. c. 1
Dates
Royal assent3 June 1663
Commencement18 February 1663
Expired17 February 1674
Repealed30 July 1948
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1948
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Highways, Surrey and Sussex Act 1696
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long titleAn Act for repairing the High-way betweene Ryegate in the County of Surrey & Crawley in the County of Sussex.
Citation8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 15

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 front page of the Act to create the Fyfield Turnpike Trust on the Great Road to Gloucester in 1738

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]

Map of the Turnpike Tollgates in London 1801.

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

The schedule of maximum tolls allowed on the Woodstock to Rollright Turnpike Trust on the Great Road to Worcester in 1751

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]

Turnpike Roads Act 1766
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long titleAn 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.
Citation7 Geo. 3. c. 40
Dates
Royal assent29 June 1767
Other legislation
Repealed byTurnpike Roads Act 1773
Status: Repealed
Turnpike Roads Act 1773
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long titleAn 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.
Citation13 Geo. 3. c. 84
Dates
Royal assent1 July 1773
Other legislation
Repeals/revokesTurnpike Roads Act 1766
Repealed byTurnpike Roads Act 1822
Status: Repealed
Sign marking boundary between parish and turnpike trust responsibility, Frome, Somerset
Roadside sign marking boundary between parish and turnpike trust responsibility, Christchurch Road East, Frome, Somerset

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 Round House (Old Toll House) at Stanton Drew

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.

Social impact

Main article: Rebecca Riots

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]

Turnpike trusts

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (May 2023)

These are incomplete lists of trusts by county.

England

Bedfordshire

Berkshire

Buckinghamshire

Cambridgeshire

Cheshire

Cornwall

Cumberland

Derbyshire

Devon

Dorset

Durham

Essex

Gloucestershire

Hampshire

Herefordshire

Hertfordshire

Huntingdonshire

Kent

Lancashire

Leicestershire

Lincolnshire

Middlesex

Norfolk

Northamptonshire

Northumberland

Nottinghamshire

Oxfordshire

Rutland

Staffordshire turnpike trusts
Trust Founded Initial Act
Citation Title
Grantham Turnpike Trust 1738 12 Geo. 2. c. 8 An Act for repairing the Road between Stamford and Grantham, in the County of Lincoln.
Nottingham, Melton and Kettering Turnpike Trust 1754 27 Geo. 2. c. 39 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.
Leicester and Peterborough Turnpike Trust 1754 27 Geo. 2. c. 30 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.
Oakham Turnpike Trust 1773 13 Geo. 3. c. 108 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

Somerset

Staffordshire

Staffordshire turnpike trusts
Trust Founded Initial Act
Citation Title
Ashbourne to Leek and Congleton Turnpike Trust 1762 2 Geo. 3. c. 62 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.
Ashby de la Zouch to Tutbury Turnpike Trust 1753 26 Geo. 2. c. 85 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.
Bilston Turnpike Trust 1766 6 Geo. 3 c. 95 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.
Birmingham and Wednesbury Turnpike Trust 1726 13 Geo. 1 c. 14 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 1762
Burton on Trent to Abbots Bromley Turnpike Trust 1809 49 Geo. 3 c. cxlv
Butterton, Warslow, Hartington and Longnor Turnpike Trust 1770 10 Geo. 3. c. 113 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.
Cheadle Turnpike Trust 1831 1 Geo. 4. c. lxviii
Cheadle to Butterton Moor Turnpike Trust 1769 9 Geo. 3. c. 80 An Act for repairing and widening the Road from Cheadle to Botham House, and from thence to Butterton Moor End, in the County of Stafford.
Cheadle to Rocester Turnpike Trust 1799 39 Geo. 3. c. lxxv
Darlaston Turnpike Trust 1713 13 Ann. c. 31 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.
Darley Moor and Ellaston Turnpike Trust 1769 9 Geo. 3. c. 81 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.
Dudley and Wolverhampton Turnpike Trust 1761 1 Geo. 3. c. 39 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 1765 3 Geo. 3. c. 59 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 1790 30 Geo. 3. c. ?
Great Chell and Shelton Turnpike Trust 1770 10 Geo. 3. c. 66 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.
Handsworth Turnpike Trust 1809 49 Geo. 3. c. cxlvii
Hanley and Bucknall Turnpike Trust 1771 11 Geo. 3. c. 87 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.
High Bridges to Uttoxeter Turnpike Trust 1766 6 Geo. 3. c. 88 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.
Lawton to Burslem and Newcastle Turnpike Trust 1763 3 Geo. 3. c. 45 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 1765 5 Geo. 3. c. 84 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.
Lichfield Turnpike Trust 1789 29 Geo. 3. c. 83 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.
New Biddulph Turnpike Trust 1819 59 Geo. 3. c. lxxxvii
Newcastle and Eccleshall Turnpike Trust 1823 4 Geo. 4. c. xlvii
Newcastle to Derby Turnpike Trust 1759 32 Geo. 2. c. 60 An Act for repairing and widening the Road from the Town of Derby to the Town of Newcastle under Lyne, in the County of Stafford.
Newcastle under Lyme and Drayton Turnpike Trust 1769 9 Geo. 3. c. 55 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.
Newcastle under Lyme and Leek Turnpike Trust 1765 5 Geo. 3. c. 84 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.
Newcastle under Lyme and Nantwich Turnpike Trust 1766 6 Geo. 3. c. 89 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.
Newport and Stonnall Turnpike Trust 1766 33 Geo. 2. c. 51 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.
Penkridge and Cannock Turnpike Trust 1827 7 Geo. 4. c. ix
Perry Bar to Birmingham Turnpike Trust 1831 1 & 2 Will. 4. c. xlvii
Rugeley and Alrewas Turnpike Trust 1824 5 Geo. 4. c. xlv
Rugeley and Stone Turnpike Trust 1728 2 Geo. 2. c. 5 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.
Sandon, Hugbridge, Hilderstone etc Turnpike Trust 1762 2 Geo. 3. c. 42 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.
Soho Hill to Hamstead Bridge Turnpike Trust 1809 49 Geo. 3. c. cxlvii
Spath to Hanging Bridge Turnpike Trust 1766 6 Geo. 3. c. 88 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 1793 33 Geo. 3. c. 153 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.
Stafford, Sandon, Eccleshall Turnpike Trust 1763 3 Geo. 3. c. 59 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.
Stone, Lane End, Blythe Bridge etc Turnpike Trust 1771 11 Geo. 3. c. 86 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.
Stone, Stafford and Penkridge Turnpike Trust 1760 1 Geo. 3. c. 39 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.
Stourbridge and Bridgenorth Turnpike Trust 1753
Streetway and Wordsley Green Turnpike Trust 1761
Sutton Coldfield to Walsall Turnpike Trust 1747 21 Geo. 2. c. 25 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.
Tamworth Turnpike Trust 1770 10 Geo. 3. c. 99 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.
Tamworth to Lichfield Turnpike Trust
Tunstall and Bosley Turnpike Trust 1770 10 Geo. 3. c. 66 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.
Uttoxeter and Blythe Marsh Turnpike Trust 1823 4 Geo. 4. c. lix
Uttoxeter and Callingwood Plain Turnpike Trust 1809 49 Geo. 3. c. vi
Uttoxeter to Stoke and Stone Turnpike Trust 1793 33 Geo. 3. c. 131 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.
Walsall Turnpike Trust 1766 6 Geo. 3. c. 99 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.
Walsall and Hamstead Turnpike Trust 1788 28 Geo. 3. c. 98 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.
Walton in Stone to Eccleshall Turnpike Trust 1792 32 Geo. 3. c. 157 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.
West Bromwich to Sutton Coldfield Turnpike Trust 1804 44 Geo. 3. c. xl
Wolverhampton Turnpike Trust 1747 21 Geo. 2. c. 25 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.
Wombourne, Sedgley to Bilston Turnpike Trust 1793 33 Geo. 3. c. 167 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

Surrey

Sussex

Warwickshire

Westmorland

Wiltshire

Worcestershire

Yorkshire

East Riding
North Riding
West Riding

Wales

Scotland

Ireland

The end of the system

Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1840
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn 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.
Citation3 & 4 Vict. c. 45
Dates
Royal assent4 August 1840
Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1845
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn 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.
Citation8 & 9 Vict. c. 53
Dates
Royal assent31 July 1845
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1875)
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1851
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain.
Citation14 & 15 Vict. c. 37
Dates
Royal assent24 July 1851
Text of statute as originally enacted
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1870
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts, and to make further Provisions concerning Turnpike Roads.
Citation33 & 34 Vict. c. 73
Dates
Royal assent9 August 1870
Other legislation
Repealed byHighways Act 1959
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1871
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts, and to make further provisions concerning Turnpike Roads.
Citation34 & 35 Vict. c. 115
Dates
Royal assent21 August 1871
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1872
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts, and to make further provisions concerning Turnpike Roads.
Citation35 & 36 Vict. c. 85
Dates
Royal assent10 August 1872
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1873
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts, and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation36 & 37 Vict. c. 90
Dates
Royal assent5 August 1873
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1898
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1874
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation37 & 38 Vict. c. 95
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1898
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1875
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation38 & 39 Vict. c. cxciv
Dates
Royal assent11 August 1875
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law (Repeals) Act 1981
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1876
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation39 & 40 Vict. c. 39
Dates
Royal assent11 August 1876
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1898
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1877
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts in Great Britain, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation40 & 41 Vict. c. 64
Dates
Royal assent14 August 1877
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1898
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1878
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation41 & 42 Vict. c. 62
Dates
Royal assent16 August 1878
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1898
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1879
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes con nected therewith.
Citation42 & 43 Vict. c. 46
Dates
Royal assent11 August 1879
Text of statute as originally enacted
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1880
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation43 & 44 Vict. c. 12
Dates
Royal assent2 August 1880
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1894
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1881
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation44 & 45 Vict. c. 31
Dates
Royal assent11 August 1881
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1894
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1882
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation45 & 46 Vict. c. 52
Dates
Royal assent18 August 1882
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1883
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation46 & 47 Vict. c. 21
Dates
Royal assent2 August 1883
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1898
Status: Repealed
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1884
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation47 & 48 Vict. c. 52
Dates
Royal assent7 August 1884
Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1885
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to continue certain Turnpike Acts, and to repeal certain other Turnpike Acts; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation48 & 49 Vict. c. 37
Dates
Royal assent31 July 1885
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1898
Status: Repealed

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Parliamentary Papers, 1840, Vol 280 xxvii.
  2. ^ a b Searle (1930), p. 798.
  3. ^ Tupling (1952), p. 3.
  4. ^ Harvey (2010), p. 151-163.
  5. ^ Pawson (1977), p. 70–71.
  6. ^ a b Records of Turnpike Trusts. Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. 1540–1886.
  7. ^ a b c d Webb & Webb (1922), pp. 157–159.
  8. ^ a b Secretary of State (1852), p. 4.
  9. ^ "House of Lords Journal". pp. 270–273. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via British History Online.
  10. ^ a b c d Webb & Webb (1922), pp. 159–165.
  11. ^ Pawson (1977), pp. 341, 260.
  12. ^ "Old Hampshire remapped". Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  13. ^ Bateman & Welsby (1854), pp. 3, 8.
  14. ^ Friar (2001), p. 276.
  15. ^ Bogart (2017), pp. 1–32.
  16. ^ Parliamentary Papers, 1840, Vol 289
  17. ^ Parliamentary Papers, 1840, Vol 256 xxvii.
  18. ^ "The Turnpike Trust". Schools History. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014.
  19. ^ "Rhayader and the Elan Valley: The Rebecca riots". Powys Digital History Project. Powys County Archives. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  20. ^ Riden (1987), p. 139.
  21. ^ Tupling (1952), p. 18.
  22. ^ Rosevear, Alan. "Turnpike Roads in England & Wales". turnpikes.org.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2012.

Bibliography

  • 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. ISSN 0022-5266. S2CID 167347539.
  • Friar, Stephen (2001). The Sutton Companion to Local History. Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-2723-2.
  • 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. ISBN 0-7134-4726-5.
  • Secretary of State (1852). Turnpike Trusts: County Reports of the Secretary of State: Number 2. Surrey. Accounts and Papers: Turnpike Roads: Volume XLIV. London: HM Stationery Office. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  • 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.
  • Webb, Sidney; Webb, Beatrice (1922). English local Government: Statutory Authorities for Special Purpose. London: Longmans, Green and Co.

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