Ashburton Turnpike Road (Ashburton and Totnes Consolidated Trust)        (updated 24th Sept 2013)

This trust resulted from the merger, in 1809, of the Chudleigh Bridge, Hennock, through Ashburton to South Brent Bridge* (created in 1754) and the Totnes North (created 1764) (including Emmett Bridge) Trusts (referred to as Ashburton and Totnes Consolidated Trust). Its primary responsibilities were; (a) a long section of the Exeter to Plymouth Highway from the crossing of the Teign at Chudleigh, over the Dart to the crossing of the River Avon at Brent; (b) the road down the Dart Valley from this Highway to Totnes.

(*omits from merger the road from Moors Barn , Whitehall Lane, Highweek to South Bovey retained by Newton Trust)

J House of Commons - Reports

Chudleigh to Brent; 28/29 Geo II Parl 5 Sess 2; A 1754-55

Chudleigh Bridge thru Ashburton to Brent Bridge ref 16 Dec;

A petition of gentlemen, clergy, freeholders and principal inhabitants Ashburton County of Devon, that Highway from Chudleigh Bridge in Parish of Hennock thru Ashburton to Brent Bridge in Parish of South Brent in or near is become so ruinous in the Winter Season that not repaired by normal course of Law.

rpt 19; Mr Harris of Ashburton reported;

to prove allegations John Dunning said he knew road in several places very narrow and much out of repair; confirmed by Solomon Earle

Royal Assent 20th March

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Vol 35 16 Geo III; 12 Feb 1776

Chudleigh thru Ashburton

A Petition of trustees of 28 Geo II; Hennock to Brent Bridge Act

Sums borrowed and have surplus after interest applied to road which is nearly complete – but some provisions inconvenient so need to explain and amend in pursuance of 1 Geo III which terminates at Forches Cross – aught to continue thru the Parish of Tingrave and Ilsington to South Bovey which cannot be done without further powers for Forches Cross to South Bovey.

7 Mar 1776

Mr Palk reported

To prove Mr Richard Eales said; trust has borrowed £2500 on first Act and £1150 on second

Royal Assent13 May 1776

List of Acts

Chudleigh

was Chudleigh bridge (Hennock) to South Brent

28 Geo2 c49

1754

 

Chudleigh

Adds Forches Cross to South Bovey

16 Geo3 c79

1776

 

Totnes

North Side of Totnes

3 Geo3 c38

1764

 

Totnes

North Side of Totnes

24 Geo3 c64

1784

 

Chudleigh Bridge to South Brent

Chudleigh Bridge to Brent Bridge and Ashburton to Newton (Highweek) and new road from Dean Prior to South Brent

42 Geo3 c75

1802

 

Totnes

North Side of Totnes and new bridge at Emmett

45 Geo3 c75

1805

 

Ashburton merged

Ashburton and Totnes North End Trust merged

49 Geo3 c127

1809

 

Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated

 

11 Geo4 c98

1830

 

Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated

 

5&6 Wil4 c6

1835

 

 

Ashburton to Newton 1802

An Act for continuing the Term, and altering and enlarging the Powers of several Acts passed respecting several Roads near the Borough of Ashburton and the Town of Newton Bushell; and for amending, widening, altering, and keeping in Repair, the Road leading from a Place called Moor's Barn to the End of White Hill Lane in the Parish of Highwick; and for making and maintaining a Road from the Bottom of Dean Clapper Hill, at the West End of the Village of Dean Prior in the Parish of Dean Prior, through the Village of Dean Church Town, and from thence through the Parishes of Rattery and South Brent to Brent Bridge, all in the County of Devon. [28th May 1802.]

 

Totnes North Side 1805

An Act for continuing the Term, and altering and enlarging the Powers of Two Acts, passed in the Third and Twenty-fourth Years of His present Majesty, for amending the Roads leading from or near the North Side of the Town of Totnes, towards Ashburton, in the County of Devon, and for building a Bridge at or near a Place called Emmett, across the River Dart. [27th June 1805.]

 

Ashburton to Newton 1809

An Act for consolidating and uniting the Powers of several Acts passed for amending several Roads near the Borough of Ashburton and the Town of Newton Bushell, and from or near the North Side of the Town of Totnes, towards Ashburton aforesaid; for building a Bridge across the River Dart, at or near a Place called Emmett, in the County of Devon; and for amending and improving the said several Roads. [27th May 1809.]

 

Ashburton to Totnes 1830

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving several Roads leading to and from or near to the Towns of Ashburton and Totnes in the County of Devon. [29th May 1830.]

for the Purpose of repairing, altering, widening, and otherwise improving the Roads herein-after mentioned and described ; and that the whole of such Roads shall be and. be deemed and considered to be to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever Parts of the said Turnpike Roads (that is to say,) the Road from the "West End of Chudleigh Bridge in the Parish of Hennock in the said County, through the several Parishes of Hennock, Boveytracey, Teingrace, Ilsington, Highweek, Bickington, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Deanprior, and South Brent, home to the East End of Brent Bridge; and the Road from the Town of Ashburton to Gulwell Bridge, through the several Towns or Villages of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Deanprior, and South Brent, in the same County ; and also One hundred and twenty Yards of the Road from the said East End of Brent Bridge towards Palston in the said Parish South Brent; and also the Road from the East End of Dartbridge in the said Parish of Ashburton unto and across Emmett Bridge,- and thence through Puddaven Lane; unto the Town of Totnes, into and through the several Parishes of Staverton, Rattery, Dartington, and Totnes, in the said County ; and also One hundred and twenty Yards in Length of the Road on the East and West Sides of the Turnpike Gate called Malt Mill Gate, in the said Parishes of Totnes and Darlington, or One of them ; and the like Space of the Road leading from Cott to Whitely Brook, on each Side, of the Turnpike Gate called Crossing Gate, in the said Parish of Dartington; and the Road from Skinner's Bridge in the Parish of Dartington to the Inn or Public House called Cott, in the said Parish of Dartington; and also One hundred and twenty Yards on each Side of the present Toll Bar at Pridhamsleigh in the said Parish of Staverton ; and the like Space of the Road leading from Goodstone Turnpike Gate to Good-stone Down in the said Parish of Ashburton ; shall be and be deemed and taken to be and shall from henceforth form Parts of the said Turnpike Roads; and that-the same, as well as the Footpaths already made on the Sides of the said Roads, and the several Toll Gates and Toll Houses already erected upon, across, or on the Sides thereof, shall be kept up, repaired, and maintained by the Trustees herein-after named, and that the Tolls herein-after specified shall and may accordingly be received and taken thereat.

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

Robert Abraham of Ashburton (clerk to the trust) reported

There are 28 miles of main road thru 13 parishes – all repaired by the trustees

11 toll gates

The roads are stated to be in “very good condition” – no part under indictment for want of repair nor ever have been.

List of Roads

Exeter Road; Old A38 from West end of Chudleigh Bridge (Hennock), though Ashburton to East end of Brent Bridge in South Brent (the section from Chudleigh to Ashburton was improved in 1826) (the road now in part by-passed by Exeter to Plymouth dual carriageway to become B3344 in Chudleigh, B3380 in Ashburton, B3372 in South Brent) (about 14 miles)

Totnes Road; A384 from Buckfastleigh (Dart Bridge) over Emmett Bridge (Riverford) through Puddaven to North approach to Totnes (last section from Dartington through Cott now UC). (about 8 miles) There is an old section of the road, the Old Totnes Road between Buckfastleigh and Austin Bridge (about a mile)

Gulwell Bridge Road: from Ashburton to Gulwell Bridge, through the several Towns or Villages of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Deanprior, and South Brent – assume this is the UC road north of A38 in part replaced in 1802. Donn’s map of 1765 shows the old road going through Pristover (Pristaford House is now on an UC road that is discontinuous, N of the old A38) and then through Haberton Ford, N of Marleigh (Harbourneford Cross is on an UC road, again N of the old A38, on the approach to South Brent – was Gulwell an earlier bridge at South Brent – Don marks it as Brent Bridge in 1765) (would be about 8 miles)

Known Toll Gates (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 13 identified of the 11 reported by the trust in 1840; (3 tollhouses still survive - 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

A385

Totnes to Buckfastleigh

Puddavine (Pudhaven)

SX

794

586

DVSH

DARTINGTON

Ashburton Road, Puddaven

jct with Clay Lane

 

; ; 1868 advert;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p70; 1881 census

UC road

Buckfastleigh to Totnes

Crossings

SX

787

614

DVSH

DARTINGTON

Crossings Cross, Sawpit Lane in Cott

 

 

; ; ;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p70

UC road (was A38)

Exeter to Plymouth

Brent Bridge

SX

6976

5956

DVSH

SOUTH BRENT

Old Toll House

Brent Mill

jct with Exeter Road, west of old road bridge within village

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

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p63; 1871 census

UC road

Brent Bridge to Dean Prior

Stidston

SX

716

604

DVSH

SOUTH BRENT

Stidson Cross

new road built 1835

 

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p63; 1871 census

UC road (was A38)

Buckfastleigh to Ashburton

Pridhamsleigh

SX

746

677

DVSH

STAVERTON

jct with old road over Staverton Bridge

 

 

; ; ;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p64

UC road

Totnes to Paignton

Totnes Bridge

SX

8063

6032

DVSH

TOTNES

The Toll House

The Plains, Vire Island Bridge

western end of Totnes Bridge, beside side stream, accessed from road -old picture shows adifferent  single storey house in 1850s

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p69; 1881 census

A381

Totnes to Buckfastleigh

Totnes (Malt Mill)

SX

7976

6080

DVSH

TOTNES

Barracks Hill

beehive shape booth

 

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

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p70; 1841 census

A383 (was A38)

Newton Abbot to A38

Goodstone

SX

78657

72033

DVTE

ASHBURTON

Goodstone Cottage

Ashburton Road, Bickington

on slip road onto the A38 south bound

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

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p93; 1871 census

A384

Buckfastleigh to Totnes

Dart Bridge

SX

746

667

DVTE

ASHBURTON

Dart Bridge

demolished in 1975

 

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

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p64

A383

Ashburton to Newton

Travellers Rest

SX

794

723

DVTE

BICKINGTON

Traveller's Rest Inn, Love Lane, jct of road down to old County Bridge

at junction with road to Newton Abbot (was terminus of Ashburton Trust)

maybe replaced by Goodstone when new road built over Bow Bridge (old pub still survives)

; ; ;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

 

UC road

old Totnes to Buckfastleigh

Austin's Bridge

SX

750

659

DVTE

BUCKFASTLEIGH

was "Austins Bridge Cottage on bridge over River Dart

Beara

 

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p64; 1871 census

UC road (was A38)

Exeter to Plymouth

Dean Court (Bigadon Lodge)

SX

732

648

DVTE

BUCKFASTLEIGH

Dean Court

Dean Burn Bridge

 

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p64; 1871 census

B3344 (was A38)

Exeter to Ashburton

Knighton

SX

8492

7766

DVTE

HENNOCK

Toll Gate Cottage

Plymouth Road, Chudleigh Knighton

on the top of the slope rising from Chudleigh Bridge(described as near Pitt in the records)

OS 1st Series; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824;

Ashburton (Ashburton & Totnes Consolidated)

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p94; 1871 census

 

Known Milestones

In the Milestone Society Database, 11 milestones are identified on the A38, and section of old A38 (now A3380 and UC),  – most in a design known as Ashburton stone. Based on Trust mileage, would expect 28.

 

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Ashburton MilestoneTypical Milestone erected by the Ashburton Trust. This one, in a design referred to as Ashburton Stone, is at South Brent.

PLEX25 Linhay Milestone Ashburton web

Typical Milestone erected by the early Ashburton Trust. This one, in a design referred to as Ashburton narrow Stone, is at Linhay.

PLEX26 Bow Bridge Milestone Bickington web

Typical Milestone erected by the early Ashburton Trust. This one, in a design referred to as Ashburton Tombstone, is at Bow Bridge.

 


Mentions in Exeter Flying Post

 (excluding notices of meetings and letting of tolls)

securities for sale

27-Mar

1788

meeting to consider erecting gate

05-Oct

1797

keeper of gate to be prosecuted re post horse duty

10-May

1798

Lett Gates (and repair in 2 mile sections)

04-Jul

1799

prop re road repairs

13-Aug

1801

invite tenders for bridge

07-Aug

1806

a toll gate will be erected near end of Bellamarsh Lane nr Knighton

18-Jan

1810

Brent gate let

21-Jun

1810

invite tenders for bridge

19-Jul

1810

met consider altering scale of tolls

24-Oct

1822

not re road to Bickington

23-Sep

1824

Peter Bradridge candidate for clerk

13-Jan

1825

Mr Kitson appointed clerk

27-Jan

1825

new road Ashburton to Chudleigh

22-Jun

1826

not to elect treasurer

28-Oct

1874

notice renewal of Act

05-Aug

1878