Tavistock Turnpike Road                                              (updated 24th Sept 2013)

This trust was created in 1762 to administer the roads running down the east bank of the River Tamar into Plymouth. In 1804 the main road to Plymouth was taken into a separate trust and the Tavistock Trust retained the roads radiating from Tavistock out over Dartmoor and along the banks of the Tamar. Roads running down to the Quays on the river that were under this trust, though not all the quayside roads appear to be turnpikes.

J House of Commons - Reports

10 Dec 1761 Tavistock

Pet of gentlemen, clergy, freeholders and other in and near Tavistock and near Plymouth, Plymouth Dock, Okehampton, Callington, Liskeard and Launceston

That road from Market Place in Tavistock across church yard to lower Abbey gate over River Tavy, thru St John’s Lane by Ash Farm House and Sortridge Gate to North end of Horra Bridge

And from South end of bridge by places called Rock Jump, Knocker’s Hole and Manadon Gate to Old Town Gate in Plymouth

And from Manadon Gate to Old Pound near Plymouth Dock

And from Tavistock to Lumborn Bridge

And Galworthy to East end of New Bridge in Parish of Tavistock in road to Callington & Liskeard

And road from Tavistock thru Milemead Lane, Lamerton Green, Tooldown, Milton Abbot, Church Town and Feldown Head to East of Greston Bridge in Parish of Dunterton, in road to Launceston,

And road from Tavistock by Wringworthy Lane Head and Beardon to Downton Gate in Parish of Lydford

And road from Tavistock by Hardwick and over Heathfield Down to a Public House called Riccard’s House, in Parish of Lamerton

Are very ruinous and dangerous for travellers and in many places carriages cannot pass without great difficulty

And that the Streets of Tavistock leading to East Bridge across River Tavy in road to Plymouth are very narrow and inconvenient and carriages frequently overturned, at great peril and danger to travellers and although taking down old bridge and building a new at Abbey Gate will be a great public convenience, it cannot be done without aid cannot be done without aid of Parliament

14 Dec 1761

Mr Rigby reported

To prove Mr Richard Turner said roads are ruinous

Mr Abraham Pike confirmed

 

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Vol 33 12 Geo III

18 Feb 1772

Pet of gentlemen, clergy, freeholders and principal inhabitants of Borough of Tavistock and of trustees of Act of 2 Geo III

They have proceeded and executed Act borrowed and expending a considerable sum of money but cannot sufficiently be repaired without continuation and enlargement

The road thru Matthew Street and Brook Street over river Tavy, by Tavyton and over Little Down and by Merreville Bridge and Two Bridges to CherryBrook in the Forest of Dartmoor in rd from Exeter to Tavistock thru Moreton Hampstead

And road from two bridges to Dunnabridge Pound in road from Tavistock to Ashburton

And road branching from the Callington TP leading thru Morwellham Lane over Morwell Down to certain Quays on the River Tamar are in some places very narrow.

25 Feb 1772

Mr Rigby rpt

To prove Mr Christopher Gullett said have borrowed and roads are ruinous

6 mar 1772

Petition of aldermen and Common council of Bodmin and others and trustees of Bodmin TP (9 Geo III) and mortgagees of tolls – note this and another act for Exeter to Dunsford

Cherry Brook is 15 miles from Tavistock Note there are 3 Great TPS completed and in good repair thru Devon to Cornwall – trustees of middle road thru Bodmin have borrowed £5000 and have 23 miles of branches that are still ruinous – a road thru Two Bridges will reduce income – it will affect creditors and value of land beside TP

No public road was ever known over that part of Dartmoor Forest and is not of benefit to public

20 Mar 1772

Pet of gentlemen, clergy, freeholders and principal inhabitants of Dunheved otherwise Launceston and Newport trustees of Act of 33 Geo II,  and mortgagees and also burgesses of Boffinney and Trevena in Tintagel

There are already 3 Great Turnpikes, Moretonhampstead is a small and inconsiderable place, The Forest of Dartmoor is very hilly wild and uninhabited – all three roads West from Exeter will be affected

23 Mar1772 Pet of Mayor, Burgesses assistants and inhabitants Okehampton and trustees of Act of 1760 and mortgagees noting also the Dunsford Act

There is at present a great TP to Okehampton and Lydford and to Coombe Bow Bridge –they have borrowed £5000. The income is barely paying the interest

Greater part of intended road is wild, bleak, mountainous and uninhabited and impassable for months in a year –will not be of public utility to build

 

List of Acts

Tavistock

 

2 Geo3 c50

1762

 

Tavistock

Road to Dartmoor

12 Geo3

1772

 

Tavistock

Breaks off the Tavistock Plymouth Road

44 Geo3 c76

1804

 

Tavistock

 New roads west of Tavistock down to the Tamar

6 Geo4 c91

1825

 

Tavistock

Expired

30&31 Vic c121

1867

Nov 1867

 

 

Tavistock 1804

An Act for amending and repairing several Roads leading from the Guildhall and Market-House in Tavistock, to New Bridge, to Greston Bridge, to Downtown Gate, to Riccard's House, to Cherrybrook and Dunnabridge Pound, and to Morwellham and New Quay, all in the County of Devon. [3d July 1804.]

 

Tavistock 1825

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving several Roads leading from Tavistock to New Bridge, and other Roads therein mentioned, all in the County of Devon; and for making Diversions to communicate therewith. [20th May 1825.]

And whereas the making and maintaining of an Alteration or Diversion of the said Roads leading from Tavistock  to Greston Bridge, commencing at Tuell Down in the Parish of Milton Abbott in the: said 'County of Devon, and terminating at Milton Green in the same Parish; and also the making and maintaining of another Alteration or Diversion in the same Road, commencing at Eastacott in the Parish of Dunterton in the said County, and terminating at Greston Bridge in the same Parish ; and also the making and maintaining of another Alteration or Diversion in the said Road, leading from Tavistock to Downtown Gate, commencing at Lanehead in the Parish of Mary Tavy in the said County, and terminating at Downtown Gate in the Parish of Lidford in the said County; and also the making and maintaining of another Alteration or Diversion in the said Road leading from Tavistock to Downtown Gate, commencing at Wringwortby Cross near Harford Bridge in the said Parish of Mary Tavy and terminating at the River Dart in the Forest of Dartmoor in the said Parish of Lidford; and also the making and maintaining a Road from Riccards House in the Parish of Lamerton in the said County, to Downtown Gate in the said Parish of Lidford; and also the making and maintaining of another Alteration or Diversion in the said Road leading from Tavistock to New Bridge, commencing at Ford Street Toll Gate in the Parish of Tavistock in the said County, and terminating at the East End of New Bridge in the same Parish; and also the making and maintaining a Road from Cullacombe Down in the said Parish of Lamerton, by Cbipshop, to near Hurlditch Horn in the said Parish of Tavistock ; and also the making and maintaining a certain other Road from Cullacombe Down aforesaid to the North End of Beckwell Farm in the Parish of Milton Abbott aforesaid, and from thence to Lifton Town in the Parish of Lifton in the said County ; and also another Road leading from the Cross Road near Long Cross in the Parish of Lamerton aforesaid, by Chillaton Hill Head, to Lew Down, in the Parish of Lew Trenchard in the said County ; and also the making and maintaining a Road from the Guildhall in Tavistock to a Lane leading towards Indiscombe in the said Parish of Tavistock; and also the making and maintaining of a Road from Hathfield near Hurdwick Lane in the Parish of Lamerton aforesaid, to Yelloway Lane in the Parish of Milton Abbott aforesaid; and also the making and maintaining of a Road from Milemead Head in the said Parish of Tavistock, to the present Turnpike-Road near Hurdwick in the same Parish ; and also the making and maintaining a Road leading from the Market House and Guildhall in Tavistock, to the North End of Westbridge in the said Parish of Tavistock, would be of great Utility and Advantage, not only to the Public, but also to the Proprietors and Occupiers of the neighbouring Estates:

 

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

Henry Cornish of Tavistock (clerk to the trust) reported

There are 51 miles 56 yards of road thru 12 parishes – 38 miles 7 furl are repaired by the trustees under contracts and the remainder by the trustees themselves

12 toll gates and 3 side bars

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

 

In 1848 the trust reported 54 miles, 4 furlongs  a small increase)

List of Roads

Greston Bridge Road; B3362 (was A384 ) from Tavistock  to Greston Bridge, through Milemead, Lamerton and Milton Abbott, Church Town and Fellhead, with a loop down from Eastcott through Dunterton to reach Greystone Bridge.(about 9 miles) commencing at Tuell Down in the Parish of Milton Abbott, and terminating at Milton Green and Eastacott in the Parish of Dunterton in the said County, and terminating at Greston Bridge

Lydford Road, A386 from Wringworthy Lanehead in the Parish of Mary Tavy, through Beardon  to Downtown Gate, Lydford (just N of Dartmoor Inn) (about 4 miles)

Mary Tavy Road; UC Road running SE from Wringworthy Cross (jct with A386) near Harford Bridge, Mary Tavy to Moorshop Crossroads with B3357 (about 2 miles)

Dartmoor Road; B3357 from Tavyton through Merryvale Bridge eastwards through Two Bridges, Cherry Brook to Dunnabridge Pound and the River Dart at Dartmeet in the Forest of Dartmoor (in the said Parish of Lidford)  (about 12 miles) (under the 1772 Act - joins with Moretonhampstead turnpike near Cherrybrook))

Brentor Road UC road from Tavistock N to Brentor from Hathfield near Hurdwick Lane, Lamerton, to Yelloway Lane in the Parish of Milton Abbott; (about 4 miles)

Riccard’s House Road; UC Road from Riccards House (North Brentor) in the Parish of Lamerton, through Lydford to Downtown Gate at jct with A386 (about 5 miles);

New Bridge Road, A390 from Ford Street Toll Gate, Tavistock, through Gulworthy  to the East End of New Bridge over the Tamar (about 4 miles)

 

ROADS DOWN TO THE QUAYS

Chipshop Road UC Road from Collacombe Down, Lamerton, by Chipshop, to near Hurlditch Horn, Gulworthy west of Tavistock (about 4 miles) ;

Lifton Road UC road from Collacombe Down to the North End of Beckwell Farm in the Parish of Milton Abbot, and thence to Lifton  to jct with A388 (about 6 miles);

Lew Down Road UC road from Long Cross (on Lifton Road) in the Parish of Lamerton, by Chillaton Hill Head, Coryton, through Uppaton and Chillaton to Lew Down, Lew Trenchard (about 5 miles)

Earlier act of 1772 included below but this was repealed in 1804

Quays Road; B3257 road from Hurldich Horn at jct with A390, over Morwellham Down and then branch on UC to the Quays at Morwellham and NewQuay on the River Tamar (about 2 miles) –

There are milestones on the B3257 going south from here to Bere Ferrers – not clear when this was turnpiked or whether these were erected by the Quay owners and carriers or the Highways Board.

 

Indiscombe Road from the Guildhall in Tavistock to a Lane leading towards Indiscombe in the said Parish of Tavistock; (??)

Hurdwick Road  UC road from Milemead Head, Tavistock, to the Turnpike-Road near Hurdwick  (Brentor Road) (about a mile) ;

Westbridge Road Streets in Tavistock, from the Market House and Guildhall in Tavistock, to the North End of Westbridge  (about a mile),

 

Earlier roads abandoned when new Plymouth Road constructed over Bedford Bridge;

Whitchurch Road; UC road from Tavistock to Whitchurch and Horrabridge (about 4 miles)

Rodborough Down Road; UC tracks of Old road from Horrabridge over the top of Rodborough Down to the Plymouth Road (about 3 miles)

Peter Tavy to Horrabridge; (section to Moorshop is above) UC from Moorshop over Plaster Down to Horrabridge (about 4 miles)

 

Tavistock Trust Milestone Lydford A typical milestone erected by the Tavistock Trust in a design referred to as large Tavistock tombstone. This one is located at Beardon, on the A386, east of Lydford.

Old Tavistock Trust Milestone Lydford A typical early milestone erected by the Tavistock Trust in a design referred to as Old Tavistock post. This one is located by Lydford castle.

 

Tavistock Milestone Dartmoor Typical Milestone on the Tavistock road on Dartmoor. This design referred to as Dartmoor Tombstone, it is found on the roads of other trusts on the moor and may be a 19th century style.

Tavistock Milestone Peter TavyAn older style of Tavistock Milestone dated 1832 on road from Peter Tavy to Plymouth

 

Click here for a map of Devon Turnpike Roads

Click here to return to Turnpikes Home

 

Return to Turnpikes in Devon general page

 


Known Toll Gates (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 21 sites identified of the 12 gates and 3 side bars reported by the trust in 1840 (9 tollhouses 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

UC road

Brentor to Lydford

Brentor

SX

472

810

DVWD

BRENTOR

Riccard's House, later Brentor Inn at crossroads

 

; Greenwood Devon (1827); ;

Tavistock

 

UC road

Brentor to Lydford

Stags Head

SX

46906

80591

DVWD

BRENTOR

Stags Head fork below Brentor church

 

 

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p30

UC road

Chillaton to Lewtrenchard

Coryton

SX

4543

8462

DVWD

CORYTON

ruin of tollhouse

Coryton Barton junction, beside River Lew

at jct with road to UC Coryton

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p30

B3357

Tavistock to Two Bridges

Merrivale Bridge

SX

545

751

DVWD

DARTMOOR FOREST

Merrivale Bridge

W end nr Dartmoor Inn

 

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p29; 1861 census

B3362

Launceston to Tavistock

Greston Bridge (Greystone Bridge)

SX

3697

8032

DVWD

DUNTERTON

Angars Ball Cottage

Old Greystone Hill

east of Greystone Bridge over River Tamar, at jct with minor road

OS 1st Series; ; advert;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p33

A390

Callington to Tavistock

New Bridge Gunnislake

SX

43411

72240

DVWD

GULWORTHY

The Toll House

New Bridge Gunnislake

on Devon bank of bridge over Tamar, controlling present road and direct road up hill

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p35

B3257

Gulworthy to Bere Alston

Morwell Down

SX

45096

71188

DVWD

GULWORTHY

Rock Cottage

Rock Cross, Morwell Down

at cross roads, opp. "The Rock", built 1832

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p36

UC road

Peter Tavy to Plymouth

Jordan Lane

SX

5137

6994

DVWD

HORRABRIDGE

Jordon Lane at foot of hill

No. 1 Commercial Road

site is identified but building uncertain

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p39

A386

Tavistock to Okehampton

Lanehead (Blackdown)

SX

503

793

DVWD

MARY TAVY

Mary Tavy

 

 

; Greenwood Devon (1827); ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p31

UC road

Tavistock to Chillaton

Uppaton

SX

43768

80942

DVWD

MILTON ABBOT

The Roundhouse

Chillaton Hill

on bend half way up hill at jct with lane to farm

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p32; 1861 census

A384

Tavistock to Launceston

Tuell Down

SX

424

781

DVWD

MILTON ABBOT

Tuell Down

 

 

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p33

UC road

Milton to Chillaton

Ramsdown

SX

421

803

DVWD

MILTON ABBOT

Ramsdown Cross

 

 

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p32; 1861 census

B3362

Launceston to Tavistock

Launceston Road

SX

47264

74687

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

The Round House

Old Launceston Road, Pixon

at jct with New Launceston Road

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p34

A386

Tavistock to Okehampton

Weir Bridge

SX

49287

75450

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

No. 79

Parkwood Road

at jct to Wilminstone Industrial Estate, N of Kelly College

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p31; 1841 census

B3357

Tavistock to Dartmoor

Hawkins Shop

SX

4934

7469

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

Old Lodge

Mount Tavy Road

beside turn to Taviton Mill House

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p29; 1841 census

UC road

Tavistock to Brentor

Buddle

SX

48

75

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

Butcher Park Hill

by Buddle Close

may be duplicate of Hurdwick

; Greenwood Devon (1827); ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p36

UC road

Tavistock to Lydford

Hurdwick

SX

475

755

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

Hurdwick Farm

 

may be duplicate of Buddle

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p36

UC road

Tavistock to Exeter (old Road)

Kilworthy Lane (Exeter Lane)

SX

481

745

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

Exeter Lane nr Barley Market

 

 

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p38

UC road

Tavistock to Plymouth

Abbey Bridge

SX

483

743

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

jct of Dolvin Road and Whitchurch Road

 

 

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p37

UC road

 

Ford Street

SX

475

740

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

Two gates on Ford Street and road leading to West Bridge

 

; ; ;

Tavistock

Jenkinson T. & Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of South Devon", p35

UC road

Tavistock to Launceston

Mount Hungary (Hungary Hill)

SX

478

745

DVWD

TAVISTOCK

top of Rocky Hill

 

closed ca 1822 replaced by Pixon

; ; ;

Tavistock

Taylor P. (2009), "The Toll-houses of Suffolk", p34

 

Known Milestones

In the Milestone Society Database, 50 milestones are identified on the B3257, B3212, B3357, A386, and section of  UC,  –in designs known as Quay stone (Morwellham area), Dartmoor Tombstone (B3357), Tavy stone, Large Tavistock and old Tavistock Post. Based on the Trust mileage reported in 1840, would expect 51

Mentions in Exeter Flying Post

 (excluding notices of meetings and letting of tolls)

notice of  meeting to contract for making Merrivale to Cherrybrook section of road and bridge over River Tavy

08-May

1772

tenders for new bridge over River Tavy

29-May

1772

notice of re erection of gate at Pixen (or Piscay Lane on west side of road from Tavistock to Whitchurch)

23-Oct

1794

notice of re repairs to road

18-Jan

1798

notice of re appointing surveyor

01-Feb

1798

Lett Gates (Tavistock to Plymouth Dock -extra payment if encampments)

20-Sep

1798

Special meeting (Market House Tavistock, over Horrabridge, by Manadon Gate to Old Town Gate Plymouth ; and Manadon to the Old Pound, Plymouth Dock)

13-Jun

1799

Lett Gates (Tavistock to Plymouth Dock -extra payment if encampments)

03-Oct

1799

contractor wanted for repair work

12-Oct

1809

erecting tollhouse

10-May

1810

applying to increase tolls

10-Sep

1812

meeting re new road

10-Apr

1818