South
Molton Turnpike Road
This was created in 1759 as a town-centred trust covering a network of
roads in northeast Devon to the south of
J House of Commons - Reports
Vol 28 ;; 1 Feb 1759 South Molton
Petition of
the gentlemen, freeholders and inhabitants of
That roads from south Molton thru George Nympton, Mary Ansleigh, Romansleigh, Meshaw, East Worlington to Drayford Bridge in way to Exeter
And South Molton thru George Nympton, Kings Nympton, Chulmleigh and Chawleigh to Labbauds Cross in the Parish of Chawleigh in the way to Exeter
Also road
from
And the road
from South Molton thru Philleigh
and Swimbridge to Kerscott
Hill in the way to
And the road
from South Molton thru Chittlehampton to Umbersleighford in the Parish of Chittlehampton in the way
to
Are very narrow and incommodious, very step and dangerous to travellers and almost impassable for carriages. Need to avoid some precipices and make ascents more gradual and easy
13 Feb 1759
Sir William Courtenay reported
To prove the allegations Thomas Peake, Edward Elstone, Isaac Hopkins and Arthur Short said the roads are narrow, hilly and incommodious.
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14th Dec 1778
Sir George Yonge reported
To prove the Allegations, George Sharland said considerable progress had been made in amending the roads and £3,650 had been borrowed, which cannot be paid off unless Powers continued.
List of
Acts
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32 Geo2 c45 |
1759 |
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19 Geo 3 |
1779 |
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42 Geo3 c1 |
1801 |
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54 Geo3 c21 |
1814 |
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New Cuts of road |
2&3 Vic c49 |
1839 |
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Expired |
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1882 |
1882 |
An Act for continuing the Term and enlarging the Powers of Two Acts, passed in the Thirty-second Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, and the Nineteenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, for repairing, widening, and rendering safe and commodious, several Roads leading from the Town of South Molton, in the County of Devon. [11th December 1801.]
Select
Committee on State of Roads 1840
John Gilberd Pearse of
There are 22
miles 1 furl 8pl of road thru 2 parishes (new cuts allowed by recent Act)– all
repaired by the trustees
7 toll gates
and one side bar
The roads are
stated to be in “good” condition – no part under indictment for want of repair.
List of Roads
Drayford Bridge (Old Exeter) Road; UC road as Old Alswear Road from South Molton to Alswear, joining the B3137 to Meshaw to branch SW on UC road over Meshaw Moor to Drayford Bridge in East Worlington, joining the Exeter Turnpike Road (about 9 miles)
Tiverton Road; As B3227 eastwards from South Molton then branching SE on UC road (was B3221), parallel to A361,thru Bishops Nympton, Rose Ash, Knowstone, to bridge over Sturcombe River at Creacombe (Crusley House) to join the Tiverton Turnpike (about 8 miles)
Barnstaple Road; UC road NW from Kingsland Barton, west of South Molton thru Filleigh and Swimbridge to Kerscott Hill, joining the Barnstaple Turnpike Road (about 4 miles)
Torrington Road; As B3227 westwards from South Molton, just south of Chittlehampton to Umbersleigh Bridge, joining the Great Torrington Turnpike Road (about 7 miles)
NEW CUTS in 1839 Act
Witheridge Road; As B3137 in Meshaw, branching off Old road to cross the River Little Dart at New Bridge, West Yeo, on to Witheridge and on to Noman’s Land to join the new branch of the Tiverton Turnpike Road (about 8 miles) (built about 1844)
Presumed Meethe Bridge Road; As B3226 SW from South Molton, joining branch of the Barnstaple Turnpike Road, (about 3 miles) (built about 1844)
Presumed Coombe Martin Road; A399, northwards from South Molton, through Brayford to Bratton Fleming, to join Coombe Martin Turnpike Road (about 10 miles) (built about 1840?)
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