Lyme Regis Turnpike Trust (Charmouth & Wimple)                   (updated 24th Sept 2013)

Formed as a Division of the Lyme Regis Turnpike Trust (created in 1758). Its primary responsibilities were for two branches of the Exeter to Lyme Regis road from the top of the watershed at Straitway and Aylesbear Common, through the junction at east of Colyford to the Dorset border.

J House of Commons - Reports

6 Dec. 1757; Lyme Regis

Gents, clergy, freeholders and inhabitants of Lyme Regis Dorset and Devon, that High Road leading from the Almshouse at west end of Charmouth to and thru Lyme Regis and thru parishes of Uplyme, Axmouth, Culliford, in Parish of Culliford Seaton, and Hangman’s Stone, to east end of a lane called Radice or Viny Lane in Parish of Culliton, and from thence to Trowe in Parish of Salcombe (otherwise Salcombe Regis), Sidford in Parish of Sidbury, Sidmouth, Hardford, Newton Poppleford in Parish of Aylesbear to western side of Aylesbear Hill to meet Exeter Turnpike road

And from East end of Radice thru this lane and parishes of Battlesis, Roncombs Gurt, parts of Parish of Sidbury, and Ottery St Mary to Straitway Head (otherwise Stretwood Head) in Parish of Whimple

And from Ottery St Mary to the waypost in the Parish of Whimple

And from Lyme Regis to and thru Parish of Uplyme to the Waystone beyond Uplyme Hill;

Are in a ruinous condition, narrow in many places and very steep and uneven and by reason of the waters in the winter season unpassable at divers places and very dangerous to travellers cannot be repaired, widened by present methods.

 

9 Dec 1757;Lyme

Mr Tomas Fane reported – to support allegation Mr Benjamin Follett said roads are very narrow and in many places founderous and in winter season frequently overflowed rendered impassable

Joseph Cottarrall confirmed this and said some of the roads open a communication to several large towns on the sea coast and is the ancient road from Charmouth to Exeter,

3rd Reading 25 Jan 1758

 

List of Acts

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

31 Geo2 c43

1758

 

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

10 Geo3 c59

1770

 

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

39&40 Geo3 c28

1800

 

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Creates into 2 Divisions

1/2 Geo4 c108

1821

 

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Extended by continuation acts to 1855

18&19 Vic c87

1855

 

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Expired

40&41 Vic c64

1877

Nov 1877

 

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

George Hangeston of Lyme Regis (clerk to the Trust) reported;

There are 39 miles 25ch of road thru 16 parishes – all repaired by the trustees except sections through Whimple and Ottery – and two miles in Uplyme which has been abandoned in consequence of the new line of road being formed some years past.

14 toll gates and 4 side bars

The roads are stated to be “in a tolerably good state of repair” – no part under indictment for want of repair.

 

Report to Secretary of State

No. 8.—LYME REGIS ROADS.

The existing Act for these roads (the lst & 2nd of George IV. cap. 108.) was passed in the year 1821 and repealed the former Acts of the 3lst of George II., and the 10th and 40th of George III. The term of the present Act would have expired with the session of 1842, but has been extended by the several Turnpike Acts Continuance Acts until the 1st day of November 1855.

 

The roads belonging to this Trust were divided by the present Act into two districts, called the " Lyme Regis Branch " and the " Crewkerne Branch," of which separate accounts have been kept of the income, expenditure, debts, &c. It therefore appears desirable to state the particulars of each of these districts separately.

 

1.—the Lyme regis branch.

The roads belonging to this branch are about 36 miles in length, and are repaired by the Trustees, excepting one mile and a half situate in the Borough and Parish of Lyme Regis, and about 5 miles situated in the Town and Parish of Ottery St. Mary, which portions are repaired by the respective parishes. There are ten toll-gates and four bars on this branch. Dividing the road into two equal portions, there are four toll-gates and three bars on one side called the Sidmouth or Western District, and five toll-gates and one bar on the Lyme Regis or Eastern District. The former district does not clear the gates on the latter, and vice versa, but the gates on each district clear each other a distance of about 14 miles. The remaining toll-gate is situated in a distinct locality, and neither clears nor is cleared. The full rate of toll is levied on this branch, except for horses not drawing, which are charged 1d. instead of 2d.

 

It appears that in the year 1762 the sum of £4,000 was borrowed upon this branch at £4.5 per cent, interest, of which the sum of £100 has been paid off, leaving £3,900 due to 12 creditors. In or about the year 1824 the sum of £2,300 was borrowed from the Exchequer Bill Loan Office, the whole of which was paid off by annual installments, which ended in the year 1843. In the year 1831 and subsequently, the sum of £2,750 was borrowed, the whole of which remains due to 13 creditors, and bears interest at 5 per cent. Respecting the sums borrowed in 1836 and 1840 the clerk has stated the following particulars :—  The sum of £350 was borrowed in the year 1836 to pay a debt due to the executors of the then late clerk, and the sum of £50 was raised by a Deed poll in the year 1840, and paid to the late Henry John Henley, Esq., a landowner, in part payment of balance due to him for a piece of land purchased by the Trustees to widen a road.

 

The accounts show that the toll income became reduced considerably in the year 1844, which was probably occasioned by the abolition of the additional tolls, which had been applied in aid of the payment of the Exchequer Loan. The toll income in 1852 was stated at £442 9s. 4d. and in 1853 at £l,095 6s, 8d-which latter sum included the arrears which had been unpaid in 1852, The funds have been expended as under: in repairs of road ; in salaries (£67 2s. until 1845, £94 2s. in 1846, and now increased to £103 2s.) ; law charges (of large amount until 1848); interest of debt; improvements (about £900 since 1839); debts paid off (installments to the Exchequer Loan Office); and incidentals. For several years there was a balance due to the treasurer, but on the 31st December 1853, there was a balance in hand sufficient to pay the arrears of interest due at that date, £255 17s 6d

 

List of Roads

Charmouth Road; A3052 from the Almshouse at west end of Charmouth through Lyme Regis across the county boundary into Devon through Rousdon and Colyford (Culliford) to Hangman’s Stone, past Radice Lane jct and on to Trowe in Parish of Salcombe Regis, by Sidford, to the River Otter at Hardford, through Newton Poppleford to western side of Aylesbear Hill to meet the Exeter Turnpike Road (at crossroads with B3180 – Halfway House).  (about 22 miles)

Straightway Head Road; UC Seaton Road (was B3174) from East end of Radice Lane (fork off Charmouth Road) through, Roncombe Gurt to Ottery St Mary and on B3174 to Straitway Head (otherwise Stretwood Head) in Parish of Whimple at jct with A30 to meet the Exeter Turnpike Road (about 12 miles)

Whimple Road; B3176 from Ottery St Mary to the waypost in the Parish of Whimple (Fairmile) (about 1.5 miles)

Uplyme Road; A3070 from Lyme Regis across the county boundary into Devon and through Uplyme to the Waystone beyond Uplyme Hill (at A35 junction?) (about 4 miles);

 

Description: Colyford Milestone

Description: Ronscombe Milestone

A typical Lyme Plate attached to a degraded stone at Colyford

A typical milestone from which the Lyme Plate has been taken. A legend has been cut into the recess at a later date

 

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Known Toll Gates (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 16 sites identified of the 14 reported by the trust in 1840 (4 surviving buildings - underlined)

Road Classification Number

Route

GATE NAME

OS Grid Ref- Prefi

Easting

Northing

District

Civil Parish

Location (Name or Number)

Road or Street (see across)

Position

Evidence

Revised 23rd Sept 2013

erected by (Turnpike Trust or Authority)

Bibliographic refs

A3052

Lyme Regis to Sidmouth

Sidmouth Road

SY

3320

9204

DOWD

LYME REGIS

Umbrella Cottage

Sidmouth Road

near top of hill, opp. High Cliffe and beside Upper Cobb House

; ; ;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

-

B3165

Lyme to Crewkerne

Colway Lane

SY

343

932

DOWD

LYME REGIS

Colway Lane/Charmouth Road jct

 

maybe part of building

; ; ; postcard

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

A3052

Exeter to Lyme Regis

Colyford

SY

244

921

DVED

COLYTON

near steam and parish boundary

small thatched building demolished (ref J Kanefsky)

 

; on Tithe Award; ;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

A3052

Exeter to Lyme Regis

Ringsdown

SY

186

913

DVED

COLYTON

Ringsdown (nr branch of road to Ottery)

 

 

; ; ;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.108; 1871 census

UC road

Newton Poppleford to Budleigh Salterton

East Budleigh

SY

066

847

DVED

EAST BUDLEIGH

No. 5 High Street, the thatched cottage called Toll Cottage has a plaque showing the octagonal building and "site of Tollhouse 1830-1977"

this is confusing - there is a picture of a grand tollhouse but no TP records of tolls. If it was 1830 maybe it was a Lyme Regis tollhouse on the Budleigh road

; ; ;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.106

A3052

Exeter to Sidmouth

Newton Poppleford (fairs bar)

SY

07942

89491

DVED

NEWTON POPPLEFORD AND HARPFORD

Ye Olde Tolle House

High Street

at jct with Venn Otterey Road, near Exeter Road jct

; ; toll advert in 1837 mentions bars erected on fair days and day before and after; postcard

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.107

A3052

Exeter to Sidmouth

Newton Poppleford (Bridge End)

SY

092

898

DVED

NEWTON POPPLEFORD AND HARPFORD

Harpford Bridge End (E side of river), corner of Four Elms Hill

 

; Greenwood Devon (1827); advert of tolls 1837;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.105; 1871 census

A358

Axminster to Axmouth

Boswell Hill (Boshill) Axmouth

ST

264

927

DVED

SEATON

Boshill Cross at jct ith A3052

 

 

; Greenwood Devon (1827); Turnpike Trust Returns 1824;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.109; 1871 census

A3052

Lyme Regis to Sidmouth

Bucks Ash (Trow)

SY

1587

8953

DVED

SIDMOUTH

Turnpike Cottage

Trow, Salcombe Regis

just E of Donkey Sanctuary turn to Branscombe; let with Dunscombe side gate

OS 1st Series; ; advert for lease of tolls 1826 & 37.;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.108; 1871 census

A3052

Lyme Regis to Sidmouth

Paccombe Hill

SY

167

903

DVED

SIDMOUTH

Paccombe Hill

 

 

; Greenwood Devon (1827); ;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

A3052

Lyme Regis to Sidmouth

Stowford / Stofford Gurt

SY

114

898

DVED

SIDMOUTH

Stowford, at jct with Greenway Lane

 

 

; Greenwood Devon (1827); advert for lease of tolls 1826 & 37.;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.106; 1871 census

UC road (was B3174)

Ottery to Lyme Regis

Roncombe Gurt

SY

168

945

DVED

SIDMOUTH

Roncombe Corner

 

 

; ; advert for lease of tolls 1826 & 37. Honiton TP map;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.107; 1841 census

A3052

Lyme Regis to Sidmouth

Gatedown Lane

SY

167

903

DVED

SIDMOUTH

Gatedown Lane jct, Weston

 

on Greenwood early but not later

; Greenwood Devon (1827); ;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

 

 

SY

1

9

DVED

SIDMOUTH

REPEAT

 

 

; ; ;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

 

B3165

Lyme to Crewkerne

Uplyme

SY

33002

93120

DVED

UPLYME

Tollgate Cottage

Tappers Knapp

at jct with Uplyme Road, close to County boundary

; ; advert for lease of tolls 1826.;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.110; 1871 census

A3052

Lyme Regis to Sidmouth

Cannington (Gore Lane)

SY

324

918

DVED

UPLYME

Cannington Farm, Gore Lane (Ware Cross)

Ware

 

OS 1st Series; Greenwood Devon (1827); web page;

Lyme Regis (Charmouth to Wimple)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2010), "The Toll-houses of North Devon", p.110; 1841 census

 

Note that the toll bridge at Seaton was built in the year that the turnpike trust expired.

Known Milestones

In the Milestone Society Database, 3 milestones are identified on the A3052,  – most in a design known as Lyme Plate. Based on Trust mileage in 1840, would expect 39.

 

Mentions in Exeter Flying Post

 (excluding notices of meetings and letting of tolls)

Apply for Act (Almshouse, west end Charmouth, through  Lyme Reis, Uplyme, Axmouth Culliford, Seaton, by Hangmans stone to east end of Radice Viney Lane; Trowe, Sidford, Sidmouth, Hartford, Newton Poppleford to Aylebear Hill and Exeter turnpike road and Gu

19-Sep

1799

meeting deed poll holders

11-Mar

1802

meeting re Act

17-Jun

1802

apply for improvement Act

14-Sep

1820

tenders to build new road

28-Oct

1824

Lyme to Charmouth road subsided after rain

31-Jan

1828

£200 to be paid off

10-Aug

1854