Modbury Turnpike Road                                        (updated 24th Sept 2013)

This trust, created in 1759, was responsible for the roads running into Plymouth from the South Hams. These roads became more important with the opening of the Laira Bridge in 1827 and a new branch of the road was constructed to use this.

Ref; http://www.plymouthdata.info/Turnpike%20roads-Modbury.htm

J House of Commons - Reports

3 Feb 1759 Modbury

Petition of the clergy, freeholders and principal inhabitants of Modbury and other parishes on Highway leading from Modbury towards Plymouth thru church town of Yelmpton , east end of Brixton church town and thence thu Plympton and village of Underwood to North end of Lincotta lane in Parish of Plympton St Mary many parts are narrow, much in decay an incommodious and dangerous for travellers, especially wheeled carriages in Winter season

 

6 mar 1759

Alderman Baker reported

Pet from inhabitants of Modbury, Ermington, Kolbeton, Kingston, Newton Ferrers, Yelmpton, Revlstoke, Brixton, Wembury, Plymstocke, Plympton St Maurice and Plympton St Mary

To prove Mr Robert Palmer jnr said is it is incommodious

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;.

List of Acts

Modbury

Modbury to Plympton

32 Geo2 c68

1759

 

Modbury

 

21 Geo3 c84

1781

 

Modbury

 

43 Geo3 c27

1803

 

Modbury

 New road to Laira Bridge

4 Geo4 c109

1823

 

Modbury

 

6&7 Wil4 c48

1836

 

Modbury

Expired

 

 1878

Nov 1878

 

 

Modbury 1803

An Act for continuing the Term, and altering and enlarging the Powers of Two Acts, passed in the Thirty-second Year of the Reign of His late Majesty, and The Twenty-first Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, for repairing and widening the Road from Modbury through the Town of Plympton, to the North End of Lincotta Lane, in the County of Devon. [7th April 1803.]

 

Modbury 1823

An Act for more effectually making and maintaining the Road from Modbury, through the Town of Plympton, to the North End of Lincotta Lane, and from Modbury to within Four hundred Yards of the Bridge over the Lary, and also a Road from Addistone Hill, in the Parish of Holbeten, to the Totnes Road at Lady Down, in the Parish of Ugborough in the County of Devon. [17th June 1823.]

And whereas the Trustees appointed in or by virtue of the said recited Acts have proceeded to put the same into Execution, and a considerable·Sum of Money hath been borrowed on the Credit of the Tolls by the said Acts granted; which still remains due and owing, and cannot be paid off or the said Road be effectually amended, improved, and kept in repair, unless the Powers and Authorities thereof are altered, amended, and enlarged ; and it is expedient that the Tolls granted by the said recited Acts should be increased : And whereas it is desirable that a new Road should be made from the present Modbury Road, at or near to a Place called Addistone Hill, in the Parish of Holbeton, to the Totnes Road at or near to a Place called Lady Down in the Parish of Ugborough, and also between Sakers Bridge Gate and the said new Road leading from Addistone Hill aforesaid to Ermington Lane, in order to open a direct Communication between the populous Towns situated in the South of Devon and the Town of Plymouth through a Line of Country comparatively free from Hills: And whereas it would be of the greatest public Utility to make another new Line of Road between the present Modbury Road at a Place called Kitley Hill in the Parish of Yealmton, by the Villages of Brixton and Elburton, and from thence to within Four hundred Yards of the Bridge over an Estuary of the Sea. called the Lary, in lieu of the present hilly and circuitous Road between Silver Bridge Gate and the Termination of the present Modbury Road at the North End of Linnacot Lane in the Parish of Plympton Saint Mary : ..May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted;

 

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

William Holberton of Plymouth (clerk to the trust) reported

There are 16 miles 1 furl 27 pl of road thru 7 parishes – all repaired by the trustees (except those parts repaired by the county at Ermington Bridge and Saker’s Bridge and Yealm Bridge, amounting to half a mile).

5 toll gates and 7 side bars (5 of which adjoin gates; the remaining 2 about 300yds from a gate)

The roads are stated to be in “good” condition – no part under indictment for want of repair. The county road at Saker’s Bridge is complained of by the public as being narrow.

 

List of Roads

Modbury Road; A379 from Modbury, through Yealmton to Brixton, then UC road NW through Underwood to Plympton St Mary and jct with A374 (North End of Lincotta Lane?)  (about 7 miles)

Ugborough Road; A3121 from LadyDown (junction with Totnes Turnpike at Venn Cross), North of Ugborough to jct with A379 at Sequers Bridge in Holberton (about 5 miles)

Laira Bridge Road; A379 from Brixham to Laira Bridge (about 3 miles)

 

Click here for a map of Devon Turnpike Roads

Click here for a map of Plymouth Turnpike Roads

Click here to return to Turnpikes Home

 

Return to Turnpikes in Devon general page

 


Known Tollhouses (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 7 (inc hut) identified of the 5 reported by the trust  (survivors in bold)

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

A3121

Totnes to Plymouth

Ermington

SX

63735

52839

DVSH

ERMINGTON

Toll Cottage

Totnes Road

at jct with Town Hill, in the bank

OS 1st Series; ; ; old Picture

Modbury

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p51

A379

Plymouth to Kingsbridge

Sequers Bridge (Sakers Bridge) or Goutsford

SX

631

519

DVSH

MODBURY

Sequers Bridge

Goutsford Gate

built ca 1823 demolished 1960s

OS 1st Series; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; old Picture

Modbury

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p52

A3121

Totnes to Plymouth

Ludbrook

SX

661

543

DVSH

UGBOROUGH

Ludbrook Gate, Ludbrook, at jct with lane to Filham

 

; ; ;

Modbury

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p51; 1861 census

A379

Plymouth to Kingsbridge

Yealm Bridge

SX

59072

51956

DVSH

YEALMPTON

Yealm Bridge Toll House, No. 161

Modbury Road

E side of bridge at jct with lane to horse centre

OS 1st Series; Greenwood Devon (1827); Turnpike Trust Returns 1824;

Modbury

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p50

A379

Plymouth to Kingsbridge

Yealm Bridge Hut

SX

59320

52012

DVSH

YEALMPTON

roadside shelter

at Dunstone Crossroads, E of the bridge and main toll house

on a wide grass verge

; ; ;

Modbury

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p50

A379

Plymouth to Kingsbridge

Brixton

SX

555

522

DVSH

YEALMPTON

Brixton village

 

demolished early 1980s

; Greenwood Devon (1827); ;

Modbury

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p49

A379

Plymouth to Kingsbridge

Silver Bridge

SX

562

520

DVSH

YEALMPTON

Silver Bridge Lake, to E of Brixton

was this replaced by village TH

 

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824;

Modbury

 

 

 

 

Known Milestones

In the Milestone Society Database, 10 milestones are identified on the A3121, and A379,  – most in a design known as Modbury Marker. Based on Trust mileage, would expect 16.

Mentions in Exeter Flying Post

 (excluding notices of meetings and letting of tolls)

Notice to renew and extend Act

01-Sep

1780

detail of roads to be repaired

19-Aug

1802