Collection TP - TURNPIKE TRUSTS

Identity area

Reference code

TP

Title

TURNPIKE TRUSTS

Date(s)

  • 1728-1871 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1.42 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The turnpike system dated from 1663 when Parliament authorised the erection of toll barriers along the Great North Road. The principle was that each person should contribute to the repair of the roads in proportion to the use he made of them. A barrier was placed across a road and a toll taken from each road user except pedestrians; the monies were then used to support the maintenance and improvement of the road. Turnpikes were placed under the control of bodies known as Turnpike Trusts. By 1770 there were over 1100 Trusts, administering 23,000 miles of road, with 7800 toll gates.

In 1728 the Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust had charge of the Great West Road (now the A30) from the Hounslow Powder Mills to the Basingstone, an old stone which stood near the Jolly Farmer Inn west of Bagshot. The route was popular with stagecoaches. The construction of a railway line caused turnpike revenue to fall rapidly and many turnpike companies were forced to close down, causing the further deterioration of the roads they were supposed to maintain. In 1888, Surrey County Council took responsibility for the main county roads, whilst Bagshot Rural District Council took over responsibility from the parish for local roads.

The main roads around Slough were managed by the Colnbrook Turnpike Trust, established in 1727. Their stretch of road ran from Cranford Bridge (between Harlington and Hounslow, then in Middlesex) to the Buckinghamshire side of the Maidenhead Bridge. Turnpike gates and toll-houses were set up at Salt Hill, near to the Castle Inn, and to the west of Colnbrook, near the road to Poyle.

Archival history

TP 1728-1871 Collection 1.42 linear metres Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust
Colnbrook Turnpike Trust
Hampton and Staines Turnpike Trust

The turnpike system dated from 1663 when Parliament authorised the erection of toll barriers along the Great North Road. The principle was that each person should contribute to the repair of the roads in proportion to the use he made of them. A barrier was placed across a road and a toll taken from each road user except pedestrians; the monies were then used to support the maintenance and improvement of the road. Turnpikes were placed under the control of bodies known as Turnpike Trusts. By 1770 there were over 1100 Trusts, administering 23,000 miles of road, with 7800 toll gates.

In 1728 the Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust had charge of the Great West Road (now the A30) from the Hounslow Powder Mills to the Basingstone, an old stone which stood near the Jolly Farmer Inn west of Bagshot. The route was popular with stagecoaches. The construction of a railway line caused turnpike revenue to fall rapidly and many turnpike companies were forced to close down, causing the further deterioration of the roads they were supposed to maintain. In 1888, Surrey County Council took responsibility for the main county roads, whilst Bagshot Rural District Council took over responsibility from the parish for local roads.

The main roads around Slough were managed by the Colnbrook Turnpike Trust, established in 1727. Their stretch of road ran from Cranford Bridge (between Harlington and Hounslow, then in Middlesex) to the Buckinghamshire side of the Maidenhead Bridge. Turnpike gates and toll-houses were set up at Salt Hill, near to the Castle Inn, and to the west of Colnbrook, near the road to Poyle.

Received as part of a larger accession.

Records of Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust, 1763-1850, including minutes; financial accounts; grants of land; correspondence; reports and Acts of Parliament.

Records of Colnbrook Turnpike Trust, 1728-1871, including minutes; financial accounts; assignments; leases of tolls; conveyanves and other deeds; plans; correspondence; bonds and Acts of Parliament.

Minutes of the Hampton and Staines Turnpike Trust, 1826-1859.

TP/BED: Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust; TP/COL: Colnbrook Turnpike Trust; TP/HAM: Hampton and Staines Turnpike Trust.

Available for general access.

Copyright: City of London
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For more records relating to Turnpike Trusts see ACC/0004 (Whitechapel Turnpike Trust) and ACC/0754 (Middlesex and Essex Turnpike Trust).

See Borough of Twickenham Local History Society paper, Number 11: "The Hampton Staines turnpike, 1773-1859" by Alan Charles Bell Urwin, 1968. Available at the Guildhall Library.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 Hampton and Staines Turnpike Trust Colnbrook Turnpike Trust Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust Organizations Nonprofit organizations Transport infrastructure Roads Turnpike roads Engineering Maintenance Road maintenance People People by roles Trustees Hampton Middlesex Colnbrook Slough Buckinghamshire Richmond upon Thames London England UK Western Europe Bedfont Hounslow Bagshot Surrey Staines Berkshire Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Received as part of a larger accession.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust, 1763-1850, including minutes; financial accounts; grants of land; correspondence; reports and Acts of Parliament.

Records of Colnbrook Turnpike Trust, 1728-1871, including minutes; financial accounts; assignments; leases of tolls; conveyanves and other deeds; plans; correspondence; bonds and Acts of Parliament.

Minutes of the Hampton and Staines Turnpike Trust, 1826-1859.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

TP/BED: Bedfont and Bagshot Turnpike Trust; TP/COL: Colnbrook Turnpike Trust; TP/HAM: Hampton and Staines Turnpike Trust.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright: City of London

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

For more records relating to Turnpike Trusts see ACC/0004 (Whitechapel Turnpike Trust) and ACC/0754 (Middlesex and Essex Turnpike Trust).

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area