Totnes, Bridgetown Pomeroy
Turnpike Road
The trust was formed
by the merger in 1780 of the two earlier turnpike trusts; Totnes to Newton Road
Trust (created 1759) that had responsibility for the southernmost through route
from
J House of Commons - Reports
26 Jan 1759 Ideford Petition
Pet of mayor, aldermen, and principal burgesses and inhabitants of Borough of Totnes and gents, clergy and freeholders of towns of Newton Bushell and Newton Abbott and other gents
Roads from head of holloway on west side of Lord Clifford’s Park Gate where the Exeter TP ends in Parish of Ideford thru Parish of Chudleigh, Ideford, Kingsteignton, Teighgrace, Highweek, Borough of Newton Bushell and Borough of Newton Abbott, Woolborough, Abbotscarswell, Ipplepen, Little Hempston, Berrypomeroy and Borough of Totnes, Harberton, South Brent, Diptford, Northish and Ugborough to Biddeford in Parish of Ugborough are ruinous and very incommodious and dangerous to travellers.
9 Feb 1759 Ideford
Sir Richard Lloyd rpt
In support Mr Robert Huxham said road is ruinous
Mr Neale confirmed this
27 Feb 1759
Totnes Road Mr Trist reported
In support Mr Robert Huxam said road from Lord Clifford’s to Lower Quarter of Totnes very inconvenient and a house of small value projects into road and obstructs passage of carriages at Collins Corner in possession of Rev Lightfoot Gaverick, who would not object to selling this as it is untenanted for several years.
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Petition of Trustees of Act passed in 32nd year Geo 2 for road from Lord Clifford’s Park Gate in year Geo 2 to Biddaford and creditors under this Act, and mayor aldermen and burgesses of Totnes, Bridgetown Pomeroy, Berry Pomeroy, Stoke Gabriel, Paignton, Maldon, Bovey Tracey, Dartington, Rattery and gents and clergy etc setting out that the roads leading from the head of the Borough of Bridgetown Pomeroy in Parish of Berry Pomeroy thru Parishes of Berry Pomeroy and Stoke Gabriel to Watton gate at end of Stoke Gabriel, and from Bridgetown to Paignton and from thence to a place called Sands
And from
And the bridge called
And from Totnes
thru Dartington to
And from Totnes
thru Dartington to
And from Huxham’s
Cross to the end of Marsh Lane leading to town of
Are so ruinous, incommodious and narrow that they cannot be amended and widened by the ordinary course of the law
And alleging that as these roads from Bridgetown to Paignton and Five Lanes branch off by several roads from Bridgetown Pomeroy and from Totnes turnpike road to Newton Abbot, it will be necessary to erect a toll gate at the head of Bridgetown Pomeroy and a side gate in the town, and as there are two tollgates already erected by virtue of above Act, one at Bunker’s Hill, a mile from Bridgetown, and another at Fork Green between Totnes and Biddaford, it would become too heavy a burden on persons travelling these roads to pay a toll at Bridgetown Head and at these gates.
So pray leave for provision of only one toll for travellers on road from Head Bridgetown to Watton Gate, Paignton and Five Lanes and to Totnes Turnpike road between Newton Abbot and Biddaford, either at Bunker’s Hill or Fork Green.
25 Feb 1762 Bridgetown Pomeroy road
Mr Butler Reported
To prove the allegation of the petitioners,
There are 2 gates that are burdensome and need to allow to pass either if paid on same day.
Petition of gents, freeholders and others of Churston Ferrers and Brixham
The road from Watton Gate to Amser Cross in Parish of Hurston Ferrers is ruinous pray make provision to include.
10 mar 1762
Mr Butler reported
To prove the allegation,
Totnes Road:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:::::::::::::::::::::::::;;;;
26 Jan 1759 Ideford
Pet of mayor, aldermen, and principal burgesses and inhabitants of Borough of Totnes and gents, clergy and freeholders of towns of Newton Bushell and Newton Abbott and other gents
Roads from head of holloway on west side of Lord Clifford’s Park Gate where the Exeter TP ends in Parish of Ideford thru Parish of Chudleigh, Ideford, Kingsteinton, Teighgrace, Highweek, Borough of Newton Bushell and Borough of Newton Abbott, Woolborough, Abbotscarswell, Ipplepen, Little Hempston, Berrypomeroy and Borough of Totnes, Harberton, South Brent, Diptford, Northish and Ugborough to Biddeford in Parish of Ugborough are ruinous and very incommodious and dangerous to travellers.
9 Feb 1759 Ideford
Sir Richard Lloyd rpt
In support Mr Robert Huxham said road is ruinous
Mr Neale confirmed this
27 Feb. 1759
Totnes Road Mr Trist reported
In support Mr Robert Huxam said road from Lord Clifford’s to Lower Quarter of Totnes very inconvenient and a house of small value projects into road and obstructs passage of carriages at Collins Corner in possession of Rev Lightfoot Gaverick, who would not object to selling this as it is untenanted for several years.
Also
a Petition made regarding the
19 Jan 1761; Petition from Teingrace, Bovey Tracey, Lustley, North Bovey, Moreton Hampstead, that road is incommodious, having a very troublesome ascent and descent that has scarcely ever been considered a public road by those travelling from Bovey Tracey to Newton, until the erection of a turnpike gate at Teing Bridge, and then it came in use only by those willing to take trouble and hazard to avoid the toll at this gate; and that for time out of mind the road had been by way of Teign Bridge, Teing Grace, Ventaford Bridge to Diptford Bridge – the same is most level and convenient – petition that this ancient way not subverted or changed and petitioners not burdened by tolls, other than at Teing Bridge.
and
A Petition from
Mayor, Aldermen and Merchants of Exeter – that the road leading from the head
of the Holloway in Ideford on west side of Lord
Clifford’s Park Gate, where the Exeter turnpike ends, thru towns of Newton Bushell, Newton Abbot and Totnes
to Biddeford in the Parish of Ugborough, has been in
part repaired by virtue of an Act of 32nd Year, and this road leads from Exeter
through Newton to Totnes and Plymouth thru a rich and
populous and trading country, and is greatly frequented by the petitioners and
that the Commissioners have erected three tollgates on the road; Teing Bridge within a mile of Newton Abbot, another between
Newton Abbot and Totnes and a 3rd between Totnes and Biddeford, and that the gate at Teing Bridge brings in more money than both others so that
repair of this road (22 miles) chiefly depends on the produce of this gate, on
the credit of which toll, considerable sums of money have been borrowed – and
road from Newton Abbot to Diptford Bridge is on North
side of road from Newton Abbot to Holloway, so travellers passing from North
and East parts of Newton Bushell, by travelling road
mentioned in bill from Bovey Mills to Diptford Bridge
and Drum Bridge to Newton Abbot and Newton Bushell,
and back again, will avoid said gate at Teing Bridge
–whereby the toll collected will be lessened, the trustees incapable of
repairing the roads and will affect the commerce of the Country. Pray nothing
in new bill will affect toll at
And
Same Trustees alleged that the tolls at Teing Bridge bring in one week or another £ 3-4s-6d and gate between Newton Abbot and Totnes brings in no more than £ 1 – 6s – 6d and the gate between Totnes and Biddeford brings in no more than 19s in a week. The sum of £2,800 has been borrowed against the tolls. Travellers on the new road may avoid these tolls.
List of
Acts
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End of |
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32 Geo2 c52 |
1759 |
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Totnes and Bridgetown-Pomeroy |
includes |
2 Geo3 c64 |
1762 |
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Totnes and Bridgetown-Pomeroy |
Merger of Totnes & Newton with |
20 Geo3 |
1780 |
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Totnes and Bridgetown-Pomeroy |
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43 Geo3 |
1803 |
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Totnes and Bridgetown-Pomeroy |
Rebuilding Totnes Bridge; new roads from Teignbridge
to Chulmleigh Bridge, with branch from Preston to
New Cross; Longcombe to Collaton nr Paignton; Gerton Cross, Totnes to Farmston, Halwell |
5 Geo4 c12 |
1824 |
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Totnes and Bridgetown-Pomeroy |
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5&6 Wil4 c26 |
1835 |
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Totnes and Bridgetown-Pomeroy |
continuation |
36&37 Vic c90 |
1873 |
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Totnes and Bridgetown-Pomeroy |
Expired |
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1888 |
Nov 1888 |
Totnes 1803
An
Act for continuing and amending an Act, passed in the Twentieth Year of the
Reign of His present Majesty, for repairing the Road leading from the End of
the Exeter Turnpike Road, on the West Side of Lord Clifford's Park Gate to Biddaford, and also several Roads leading from Bridgetown,
in the County of Devon; and for varying the Line of certain Parts of the said
Roads, and also for extending the Provisions of the said Act to the Road
leading from the Termination of one of the said Roads, at or near the Bottom of
Water Lane, in the Parish of Totnes, to a Place called Luscombe
Cross, in the Parish of Harberton, in the said County
of Devon. [24th March 1803.]
An
Act for more effectually repairing and improving the Road leading from the End
of the
the several Roads hereinafter described; (that is to
say), the Road leading from the South Termination of the Exeter Turnpike Road
in the Parish of Ideford, to Biddaford
Bridge in the Parish of Ugborough ; from the Top of the Hill on the East Side of Gatcombe in the Parish of Littlehempston,
to Bridgetown Cross in the Parish of Berry Pomeroy; from Bridgetown Pomeroy in
the Parish of Berry Pomeroy to Galmpton Cross in the
Parish of Churston Ferrers;
from Bridgetown Pomeroy aforesaid to the
Town of Paignton, and from thence to a Place called
The Sands; also from the last described Road at a Place called Glaze Gate in
the Parish of Berry Pomeroy aforesaid, to a Place called Five Lanes in the
Parish of Marldon; and from the Turnpike Gate in Totnes called the Bromborough
Gate, to Luscombe
Cross in the Parish of Haberton; and from the said
Turnpike Gate to Gerston Cross in the said Parish of Totnes; all in the said County of Devon : And whereas in
consequence of the new Roads made by virtue of the said Acts, certain Parts of
the old Roads therein comprized, (that is to say) the
Road leading from the Top of the Hill on the East Side of Gatcombe
in the Parish of Littlehempston, to the Top of Bourton Hill, at or near Wrinkle Horn in the Parish of Berry Pomeroy aforesaid; and also the Road
leading from or near Batter-ways Bridge to the Village of Paignton,
and from thence to The Sands in the Parish of Paignton
aforesaid, may be discontinued as Part of the Roads comprized
in the said Trust, and the said Trustees discharged from the Repairs thereof,
without Inconvenience to the Public: And whereas it would be a great
Accommodation to the Inhabitants of the Towns of Chudleigh,
Newton Bushell, Newton Abbot, Bridgetown Pomeroy, and
Totnes, and
their Vicinity, and would otherwise be of public Utility, if more
effectual Provision was made for the making, improving, and keeping in Repair
the several other Roads hereinafter described,
(that is to say) a Road leading
from the County Post near the East End of Teignbridge
in the Parish of Kingsteignton, to the Exeter
Turnpike Road near to and on the East Side of Chudleigh
Bridge in the Parish of Chudleigh, with a Branch therefrom, adjoining or near to the Village of Preston to
New Cross, all in the Parish of Kingsteignton
aforesaid ; another Road leading from the Village of Langcombe
in the Parish of Berry Pomeroy, to the
Village of Collaton in the Parish of Paignton
aforesaid; another Road or Highway called Little Cladland
Lane, leading from the South End of Collaton aforesaid, to join the• Brixham Turnpike Road in the said Parish of Paignton; and also another Road leading from Gerston Cross in the Parish of Totnes,
to a proposed. Junction with other Roads, at a Place situate about Four hundred
and seventy yards south of a Farm House called Farmston
in the Parish of Halwell in the said County of Devon;
the Lines of which last mentioned Roads are specified or described in the Map
or Plan hereinafter mentioned and referred to: And whereas from and after the
making of certain Parts of the additional Roads authorized to be made by this
Act, certain other Parts of the Roads comprised in the said recited Acts, and
hereinafter particularly mentioned, (to wit) the Road from or near the West End
of the 'Turnpike Gate near the Town of Newton Abbott in the Parish of Woolborough, to or near the West End of Pollexfens
Barn in the Parish of Abbotscarswell ; the Road from
or near the Four Mile Stone in the Parish of Ippelspen,
to or near Bow Bridge in the same Parish; the Road from or near the Direction
Post at the Top of Tramridge Hill in the Parish of
Berry Pomeroy aforesaid, to or near the Point of a Hedge in Kiln Field, Parcel
of a Tenement called Martin Torr in the said Parish
of Berry Pomeroy ; the Road from the Village of Berry Pomeroy to Glaze Gate in
the same Parish, and from thence to Five Lanes in the Parish of Mardon, and from Glaze Gate to or near the said Village of
Collaton ; another Piece of Road from the Village of Langcombe
in the said Parish of Berry Pomeroy to Galmpton Cross
in the Parish of Churston Ferrer's
; the Road from or near the Bottom of the Hill leading to Bowdon in the said
Parish of Totnes, to or near Luscombe
Cross aforesaid ; the Road from or near the Two Mile Stone near the Village of
Blakemore in the Parish of Harberton, to or near the
End of a Lane leading to Venton Slate Quarry in the
same Parish ; the Road from or near the Cider House in the same Parish, to or
near New Bridge in the Parish of South Brent; and the Road from or near
Woodland Farm House in the Parish of Ugborough, to or
near Barns Hill Gate in the same Parish, all in the said County of Devon, may
be discontinued, and the said Trustees discharged from the Repairs thereof,
without Inconvenience to the Public: And whereas it would he of public Utility
if the said Trustees were empowered to divert and alter the Course and,
Direction of several other Parts of the Roads comprized
in the said Acts, and also to take down and remove certain Market Houses,
Buildings, and Obstructions in the Towns of Newton Abbott and Totnes, in Manner hereinafter provided : And whereas the
Bridge over the River Dart, called Totnes Bridge, is
very ancient, narrow, inconvenient, and dangerous for the Passage of Persons,
Carriages, and Cattle over the same, to the great Injury of the Inhabitants of
the said Towns of Totnes and Bridgetown Pomeroy, and
Persons passing over the same Bridge. : And whereas the Mayor and Burgesses of
the Borough of Totnes for the Time being are subject
and liable to the Repairs of the said Bridge, but the only Funds under their
Control which are applicable to the Repairs thereof are some small Chief Rents,
amounting in the Whole to Three Pounds Five Shillings and Sixpence per Annum,
and no more, and the said Mayor and Burgesses are therefore unable to rebuild
or effectually to repair the same ; and it would be a great Convenience to the
Inhabitants of the said Towns of Totnes and
Bridgetown Pomeroy, and Parts adjacent, and of public Utility, if the said
Bridge was properly widened, improved, and repaired, or if the same was taken
down, and a good and substantial Bridge built near the Site thereof :
Select Committee on State of Roads 1840
George Farwell of Totnes (clerk to the trust)
reported
There are 43.5 miles of road thru 16 parishes – all repaired by the
trustees (plus parts thru towns and county bridges – amount to about 2 miles
done by parishes)
12 toll gates and one on
The roads are stated to be in “good” condition – no part under indictment
for want of repair.
List of Roads
Biddaford Bridge Road; B3195 from the Southern termination of the Exeter Turnpike Road in the Parish of Ideford, (above Sandy Gate) through Newton Bushell, then A381, through Abbotskerswell and Littlehempston to Totnes, then UC (was the B3210) through Blakemore and Avonwick to Langford, taking a fork NW on UC to Biddaford Bridge in the Parish of Ugborough (Bittaford) at old A38 jct (about 18 miles)
Gatcombe Road; UC from jct with A381 at the top of the Hill on the East Side of Gatcombe in the Parish of Littlehempston, to rejoin A381 at Bridgetown Cross (Wrinkle Horn) in the Parish of Berry Pomeroy; (about 2 miles) (discontinued 1824 – this was the original Newton road shown on Donn’s map of 1765)
Galmpton Road; UC road from Bridgetown Pomeroy (across A385) through Stoke Gabriel to Galmpton Cross in Churston Ferrers (about 5 miles)
Marldon Road; UC Road from Glaze Gate (True Street) in the Parish of Berry Pomeroy to a Five Lanes in Marldon; (about 4 miles) (discontinued in 1824)
Luscombe Cross Road; UC road south from Bromborough Turnpike Gate in Totnes to Luscombe Cross in the Parish of Haberton; (about 1 mile)
NEW ROADS IN 1824
Little
Discontinued in 1824 (not noticed in earlier Acts)
Blakemore to Venton; the Road from the Two Mile Stone near the Village of Blakemore in the Parish of Harberton, to or near the End of a Lane leading to Venton Slate Quarry (UC road to A385 Totnes to South Brent - about a mile);
New Bridge Road; the Road from or near the Cider House in Harberton, to New Bridge in the Parish of South Brent; (UC road from Harberton to Avonwick; parallel and south of main turnpike, connecting Bittaford Road and Farmston Road – about 4 miles)
IN 1760 ACT BUT NOT 1824
Rattery Road; UC road from Totnes thru Dartington to Cobbaton Lane and next to Willing Cross (Willing Gate east of Rattery) (about 4 miles)
Avonwick link- On Greenwood map of 1827 – UC
road from Avonwick to join
(note
that A385, Dartington to South Brent was not shown on
Other
roads were actually turnpiked by the Totnes North End
Trust
Buckfastleigh Road; A381, from Huxham’s Cross, Dartington, to the end of Marsh Lane leading to town of Buckfastleigh in Parish of Rattery.
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