Cullompton Turnpike Road (updated 14^th Jan 2009)

This trust was established in 1813 to build and manage a new route for the Exeter to Bristol Post Road. This replaced a short section of hilly road that was part of the Exeter Turnpike Trust Road via Bradninch and Killerton.

The initial proposal was by the Tiverton Trust whose surveyor, James Dean outlined plans to improve the both the road from White Ball (at the Somerset Border) to Exeter via Tiverton and Silverton and via Cullompton (EFP 15^th Feb 1810) “The Great object of the deviation would be rendering Stoke Hill less formidable, and the avoiding altogether the Cullompton and Bradninch Hills”. He promised “ all the advantages of ease of draught, saving in point of distance, soundness of bottom and goodness of materials, with short carriage to make and repair the road” His plans covered roads under the jurisdiction of both Exeter and Tiverton trusts and he saw the need for the “concurrence” of both groups. Eventually it was decided to create a new Cullompton Trust to implement building the new road alongside the River Culm from Cullompton to Budlake. The final line headed south from here over a low hill to Broad Clyst rather than as proposed by Mr Dean to Killerton and the steep descent at Stoke Hill.

List of Acts

Cullompton	Cullompton to Broad Clyst	53 Geo3 c65	1813
Cullompton	Padbrooke Bridge to Hazel Stone	2&3 Vic c20	1839
Cullompton	Expired	36&37 Vic c90	1873	Nov 1873

Cullompton to Broad Clyst 1813

An Act for making and maintaining a Carriage Road from Padbrooke Bridge in the Parish of Cullompton, to Hazel Stone in the Parish of Broad Clist, in the County of Devon. [1st May 1813.]

A new road would avoid very steep and inconvenient hills.

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

Frederick Leigh of Cullompton (clerk to the trust) reported

There are not quite 6 miles of road thru 3 parishes – none of the road is repaired by the trustees. It is nominally repaired by the parishes, but it is expected that the trustees will be enabled under their new Act, to repair to a considerable extent.

1 toll gate and one side bar

The roads are stated to be in “bad” condition, some parts very bad– no part under indictment for want of repair but complaint has frequently been made from the General Post Office, accompanied by threats of indictment.

Should the Bristol and Exeter Railway be extended to Exeter then I am of the opinion that this turnpike road would be scarcely used, except for very short distances, and then perhaps merely as a road to the fields. The securities will then be nearly valueless. The line fixed for the railway between Cullompton and Exeter runs parallel to the turnpike road, which has no branches from which it might receive increased travel in either direction – it follows it must be destroyed.

List of Roads

Exeter Road; B3181 (was A38 - now by-passed by Taunton to Exeter section of M5 to Plymouth) from Padbrook on south side of Cullompton, through Budlake to jct with old road at Broad Clyst. (about 6 miles)

Return to Turnpikes in Devon general page

Known Tollhouses (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 1 identified of the 1 reported by the trust (plus 1 bar)

AR

OK

B3181 (was A38)

Cullompton to Exeter

SS

9853

0082

Beare

BROAD CLYST

Bearegate Cottage

Beare

Known Milestones

In the Milestone Society Database, no milestones are identified. Based on Trust mileage, would expect 6.

Mentions in Exeter Flying Post

(excluding notices of meetings and letting of tolls)

notice of meeting for new road from Cullompton to Hazel Stone	09-Jun	1814
Progress report on new road	22-Sep	1814
Road from Cullompton to Broadclyst nearly ready	14-Dec	1815
to pay interest to subscribers	06-Oct	1826
re interest payments	17-Nov	1831
pay creditors	26-Mar	1840