Bristol Turnpike Trust (updated 17^th Oct 2013)

This trust, created in 1727, was one of the earlier turnpike trusts in England. It grew to be one of the largest turnpike network in England, responsible for the western end of the Great Western Road, the main road from the Midlands to the Southwest and a network of roads radiating into the market towns and coalfields of NW Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Part of the roads from Aust to Sodbury were merged in 1800 with adjoin roads from a district of the Acton Turville trust to create the Sodbury Division.

List of Acts

Bristol		13 Geo1 c12	1727
	Powers to prosecute gate breakers	3 Geo2	1730
		22 Geo2	1749
	Stoke Bishop to Shirehampton, and road to Aust	31 Geo2	1758
City of Bristol		19 Geo3 c116	1779
City of Bristol	Bitton & Toghill Roads	37 Geo3 c178	1797
City of Bristol	Main roads with new roads added	59 Geo3 c95	1819
	Expired			1867

Act 59 Geo3 c95 (June 1819)

An Act for Widening, repairing and improving several roads round the City of Bristol, and for making certain new lines of road to communicate with the same.

The Aust Road; the present Turnpike Road from the Top of Park Street, in the said City and County of Bristol, through the Village of Westbury and over Braintree Hill to Aust Passage in the Parish of Henbury, in the County of Gloucester, which shall be called The Aust Road ;

and the present Turnpike Road from the River or Brook at Westbury, crossing the said River or Brook through Part of the Village of Henbury into the said Aust Road at the Cross Hands or Direction Post near Cribbs Causeway; and the present Turnpike Road from the Cross Hands or Direction Post at or near Wain Bridge to the new Passage in the said Parish of Henbury;

and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) from the Horfield Road, at or near the Pump at Redland, opposite the House of Mistreess Walker, into the said Aust Road at the North-eastward End of Durdham Dawn;

and the present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Aust Road, at a Place called The Limekilns on Durdham Dawn aforesaid, in the Parish of Clifton, through Stoke Bishop to Pill Passage in the Parish of Westbury-upon-Trym;

and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) diverging from the said last mentioned Road at the Entrance into Lord De Clifford’s Park to or into the said Road in the Village of Henbury;

and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) lately made across the South-eastward Side of Durdham Down, from the Cross Hands on the said Aust Road into the said Road leading to Pill Passage;

and a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) to lead across Durdham Down, from the said last mentioned Road into the said Road from the Village of Clifton ;

and the present Turnpike Road from the West End of Paul Strret in the Parish of Saint Michael in the said City and County of Bristol, into the said Aust Road at the Turnpike Gate called The White Ladies;

and the present Turnpike Road from the said City and County of .Bristol, at or near the Foot of Honeypen Hill, through the Village of Clifton, by the Church, and also by the House of Gabriel Goldney Esquire, over Clifton Down into the said Road leading to Pill Passage on Durdham Down ;

and the·present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Aust Road at or near the Entrance into Mr. Thomas Tyndall’s Park to the Southern End of Galsows Acre Lane;

and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) leading from thence into the said last mentioned Road through the Village of Clifton,·

and the present Turnpike Road leading from the. Hotwell Road, at the Bottom of Clifton or Granby Hill, to the Top of they said Hill; and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) leading from the Top of the said Hill into the said Road through the Village of Clifton at the Foot of Windmill Hill, and also into the same Road by Gloucester Row opposite the House of Mistress Miles Widow ;.

and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) leading from the Bottom of Granby Hill aforesaid to the Hotwell Pump Room in the said Parish of Clifton;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) leading from the said Pump Room by the Side of the River and up the Hill, to or into the said Road leading from Clifton to Pill Passage at the Top of Bridge Valley ;

and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) leading from thence along the Southward Side of Durdham Down into the said Aust Road at the Limekilns aforesaid; all which Roads pass through or lie in the Parishes of Saint Augustine the Less and Saint Michael in the City and County of Bristol; Clifton, Westbury·upon -·Trym, and Henbury, in the County of Gloucester, and City and County of Bristol, and shall be deemed and accounted Parts of the said Aust Road.

Horfield Road; The present Turnpike Road from the said City and County of Bristol, at or near Stokes Croft Turnpike Gate, through Horfield and Filton, over Almondsbury Hill and Milbury Heath, to the Church or Chapel at Stone, in the said County of Gloucester, which shall be called The Horfield Road ;

and the present Turnpike Road from the Ship at Avestone, through the Town of Thornbury, into the said Horfield Road at or near Buckover;

and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) from-theWelt End of Paul Street in the City of Bristol, along Paul Street aforesaid and Portland Street into Cotham Lane, and along the said Lane to or into the·said Horfield Road at the Cross Hands or Direction Post at the Bottom of Lampblack Hill, in the said Parish of Westbury-upon-Trym ;

and the present Turnpike Road from the said last-mentioned Cross Hands or Direction Post, through the Village of Redland into the said Aust Road, at the·Cross Hands on Durdham Down aforesaid;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the said Horfield Road at or near Catherine Place, in the Parish of Saint Paul in the said County of Gloucester, to or into the same Road near Cutlers Mills, in the same Parish;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) leading from the said Horfield Road at or near the Entrance into a Field in the Occupation of William Gold, in the Parish of Horfield in the said County of Gloucester, near a House called The Ship, to or into the same Road at or near the further End of the same Field, in the same Parish ;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made)leading from the said Horfield Road at or near a House in the Occupation of James William, situate at Buckover in the Parish of Thornbury in the said County of Gloucester, to or into the same Road at or near a House in the Occupation of Samuel Parnell, in the same Parish ; also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the said Horfield Road on Horfield Common, in the said Parish of Horfield, through the Parishes of Horfield and Westbury - upon-Trym into the said Aust Road on Durdham Down, in the said Parish of Westbury-upon-Trym, and from thence over Part of the said Down into the said Road leading to Pill Passage at the entrance of the said Road leading to·Clifton, in the same Parish;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the said Aust Road at or near Black Horse Hill, in the Parish of Henbury, at the Entrance into Greenway or Sands Lane along or by the said Lane, and of Hays Lane, into the said Horfield Road at the End of Hays Lane, and from thence through Lands on the Southward Side of Thoroughfare Lane to the End of Stoke Lane, where it joins the Lane leading to Harry Stoke; all which last-mentioned Roads pass through or lie in the several Parishes of Saint Paul, Saint James, Saint Philip and Jacob, Westbury-upon-Trym, Horfield, Filton, Stoke Gifford, Almondsbury, Olvestone, Alvestone, Thornbury, Berkely, Henbury, and Stapleton, in the County of Gloucester, and shall be deemed and accounted Parts of the Horfield Road.

The Stapleton Road; And the present Turnpike Road from the said City and County of Bristol at or near a Place called Lawford’s Gate, in the Parish of Saint Philip and Jacob, in the County of Gloucester, down Gloucester Lane, and by the new Prison for the County of Gloucester, through the Parishes of Saint Philip and Jacob, Stapleton, Winterbourue, Frampton Cotterell, and Iron Acton, in the said County, to the Village of Iron Acton, and the Road (by this Act intended to be made Turnpike) from thence through the same Village to a Common, lately inclosed, called Rangeworthy Common, which shall be called The Stapleton Road;

and the present Turnpike Road from the Stapleton Road aforesaid, near Begbrook, through Titherington, into the Horfield Road aforesaid, at Buckover in the said County of Gloucester, and passing through the Parishes of Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell, .Alvestone, and Titherington ;

also the present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Stapleton Road at or near the Public House called The Blackbirds, to the Entrance into Stokes Croft, where the said Horfield Road commences; .

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the End of Newfoundland Street, where it joins Holton Street, situate partly in the Parish of Saint Paul in the said City and County of Bristol, and partly in the Parish of Saint Paul in the County of Gloucester, through the same Parishes into the said Stapleton Road, at the said Bridge over the River Frome at Baptist Mills aforesaid,

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the End of Stoke Lane aforesaid, where it joins the Lane leading to Harry Stoke aforesaid, in the Parishes of Stoke Gifford

and Winterbourne, or One of them, along or by the Side of the said Lane to the said Stapleton Road at Hambrook ;

and also a. new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the said Stapleton Road, at a Spot between Frenchay and Hambrook, in the Parish of Winterbourne, by Frenchay, into the said Mangotsfield Road at Downend, in the Parish of Mangotsfeld, all which last-mentioned Roads pass through or lie in the City and County of Bristol, and County of Gloucester, and shall be deemed and accounted Part of the Stapleton Road;

Mangotsfield Road; The present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Stapleton Road, in the Parish of Stapleton, in the County of Gloucester, at or near the Black Swan Inn, through the Parishes of Stapleton and Mangotsfield to Mead Brook (which divides the Parishes of Mangotsfield and Pucklechurch), in the County of Gloucester, which shall be called The Mangotsfield Road ;

and the present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Mangotsfeld Road at or near a Place called The Fishponds, in the Parish of Stapleton, in the said County of Gloucester, and extending from thence through the Parishes of Stapleton, Mangotsfield, Frampton Cotterell, and Westerleigh, to Oxbridge, in the Parish of Westerleigh, in the County of Gloucester ;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the said Mangotsfield Road at Downend aforesaid, in thc Parish of Mangotsfield over Mangotsfield Common, into the Mangotsfield Road near the Church, in the Village and Parish of Mangotsfield, and from thence over Rodway Hill and Webbs Heath, into the said Toghill Road, on Bridge Yate Common, in the Parish of Wick and Abson which last-mentioned Roads are in the County of Gloucester, and shall be deemed and accounted Part of the Mangotsfield Road.

Toghill Road; The present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Stapleton Road, at the Top of Gloucester Lane, through the Parishes of Saint Philip and Jacob, Saint George’s, Bitton, Siston, Wick and Abson, Doynton, and Cold Ashton, in the said County of Gloucester, into the Bath Road, at the Top of Toghill, in the Parish of Doynton, in the said County of Gloucester, which shall be called The Toghill Road;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to he made) leading from the said Toghill Road, on Bridge Yate Common aforesaid, in the said Parish of Wick and Abson, over North Common and Oldlands Common, and along or by the Side of a Lane called Cherry Garden Lane, into the Bitton Road at the End of the said Lane, in the Parish of Bitton, which

said Roads are in the County of Gloucester, and shall be deemed and accounted Part of the said Toghill Road :

Bitton Road; The present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Toghill Road at or near the new Church, in the said Parish of Saint George’s, and extending through the Parishes of Saint George’s and Bitton, in the County of Gloucester and of Northstoke, in the

County of Somerset, to Coombe Brook, in the Parish of Kelson, in the said County of Somerset, which shall be called The Bitton Road ,·

and the present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Bitton Road at Brockham Hill, in the Parish of Bitton, in the County of Gloucester, through the said Parish of Bitton to the Bridge over the Avon, near Keynsham, in the said County of Somerset, which shall he deemed and accounted Part of the said Bitton Road:

Brislington Road; The present Turnpike Road from Hill’s Bridge, in the said City and County of Bristol, through the Parishes of Saint .Mary Redcliffe, in the City and County of Bristol, and of Bedminster, Brislington, Keynsham, Saltford, Corston, and Newton Saint Loe, in the County of Somerset, to the Globe Inn, in the said Parish of Newton Saint Lee, which shall be called The Brislington Road;

and also the present Turnpike Road diverging from the said last-mentioned Road near the Church at Keynsham, and leading from thence to the Bridge over the Avon, near Keynsham aforesaid, in the said County of Somerset, which shall he deemed and accounted Part of the said Brislington Road, and which said last-mentioned Roads are situate in the City and County of Bristol, and County of Somerset :

Whitchurch Road; The present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Brislington Road at the Top of Totterdown Hill, in the said City and County of Bristol, and extending from thence through the Parishes of Saint Mary Redcliffe, Bedminster, Brislington, Whitchurch, Pensford, Publow, Chelwood, Clutton, Camely, and High Littleton, to White Cross, in the said Parish of High Littleton, in the said County of Somerset, which shall be called The Whitchurch Road ;

and a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the said Whitchurch Road, at or near a House in the Occupation of William Ford, in the Parish of Pensford, in the County of Somerset, crossing the River Chew, and also crossing the said Whitchurch Road at or near a House in the Occupation of John Price, in the Parish of Publow, into the said Whitchurch Road, about One hundred and forty Yards beyond the Seventh Milestone from Bristol, which said Road passes through the Parishes of .Pensford and Publow, in the County of Somerset and which said Roads shall be deemed and accounted Parts of the said Whitchurch Road:

Winsford Road; The present Turnpike Road from Harford’s Bridge in the said City and County of Bristol, through the Parishes of St Mary Redcliffe, in the said City and County, and of Bedminster, Long Ashton, Barrow, Winsford, Wrington, Burrington, Churchill, Rowborough, Shipham, Winscombe, Compton Bishop, Badgworth, Biddisham, and East Brent, in the said County of Somerset, to the Parish of South Brent, in the same County, which shall be called The Winsford Road.

Dundry Road; The present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Winsford Road at the Cross Hands on Bedminster Down, in the Parish of Bedminster, in the County of Somerset, and extending from thence through the Parishes of Bedminster Dundry, Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Compton Martin, and Westharptry, in the said County of Somerset, to a Crossway leading from Westharptry to Chedder, in the said Parish of Westharptry, in the said County of Somerset, which shall be called The Dundry Road.

Ashton Road; The present Turnpike Road diverging from the said Winsford Road at or near the London Inn in Bedminster, in the Parish of Bedminster, in the County of Somerset, and extending from thence through the Parishes of Bedminster, Long Ashton, Flax Bourton, Backwell, Chelvey, and Brockley, to the Parish of Yatton, in the said County, near to a Place called Hortsbach, in the said Parish of Yatton, which shall be called The Ashton Road.

and the present Turnpike Road from the said Ashton Road at or near the West End of Horseman’s Green, in the Parish of Long Ashton, through the Parishes of Long Ashton, Abbotts Leigh, and Portbury, in the same County, to Pill Bridge, in the said Parish of Portbury;

and also the present Turnpike Road from the Said Ashton Road, at or near the Village of Long Ashton, in the said Parish of Long Ashton, through the same Parish, to the Cross Hands or Direction Post at the Top of Clerkencombe, in the said Parish of Long Ashton, which shall be deemed and accounted Parts of the Ashton Road;

also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from Harford’s Bridge aforesaid, in the said City and County of Bristol. by or near the new Course of the River Avon, through the Parishes of Saint Mary Redcliffe, in the City and County of Bristol, and of Bedminster, in the County of Somerset, into the Ashton Turnpike Road at or near the Entrance of the Lane leading to Clift House; also a new Road (by this Act intended to be made) leading from the said Ashton Road, in the Parish of Chelvey, in the said County of Somerset, near to West Town, through the Parishes of Chelvey and Brockley, in the same County, to or into the said Ashton Road at or near a House in the Occupation of William Cox the younger, in the said Parish of Brockley, which said Roads shall be deemed and accounted Parts of The Ashton Roads; and all which said last-mentioned Roads are situate in the City and County of Bristol, and County of Somerset.

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

In “Return of length of road in each Turnpike Trust in England & Wales” Parl. Papers 1847-48 – (dated May 1848)

Trust reported 168 miles 4 furl. 0 yds (see 1840 was 173)

List of Roads

(a few of the roads were identified and mapped in “Somerset Roads – the Legacy of Turnpike, by Bentley and Murless 1985”)

Aust Road; A4018 from Bristol to Westbury, then B4065 to Aust. UC roads in Westbury. B4064 from Pilning to New Passage. UC road from Redland to Durdham (Clifton). A403 from Durdham, Stoke Bishop to Pill Passage. Other UC in Clifton and Durdham.

Horfield Road. A38 through Horfield, Filton and Almondsbury to Stone, at the County Boundary. B4061 from Alvestone to Thornbury. UC road from Horfield to Westbury. B road from Horfield to Redlands.

Stapleton Road; B4058 through Stapleton, Frenchay, Winterbourne and Frampton to Iron acton and Rangeworthy. B4427 from Begbroke, then UC road to Tytherington to A38 jct at Buckover. UC road to Harry Stoke. UC road and then A4174 to link from Frenchay to Downend.

Mangotsfield Road; A432 through Fishponds and Mangotsfield then B4465 to Mead Brook at parish boundary with Pucklechurch. A432 from Fishponds to Oxbridge, beyond Frampton. UC road from Downend, over Rodway Hill to Siston Common to jct on A420 at Warmley.

Toghill Road; A420 through St George’s, siston and Wick to Tog Hill, jct with UC road to Lansdown. A4175 from Bridgeyate Common and Oldlands to Bitton

Bitton Road; A431 from St George’s to Bitton into Kelston. A4175 from Willsbridge to Keynsham Bridge.

Brislington Road; A4 from Bedminster, through Brislington to Corston, jct with A39. A4175 from Keynsham to Keynsham Bridge.

Whitchurch Road; A37 from Bedminster, through Whitchurch, Pensford and Clutton to White Cross, jct with A39. UC road over River Chew.

Winsford Road; A38 from Bedington through Churchill and Badgworth to East Brent.

Dundry Road; UC road from Bedminster Down, through Dundry and Chew Magna and then B3114 to Westharptree.

Ashton Road; A370 from Bedminster to Long Ahton (UC loop), and Brockley to Yatton (Congresbury). A369 from Long Aston through Abbotts Leigh to Pill bridge (Portbury). B3128 from Long Ashton up Clerkencombe (to Failand?). UC road from West Town, though Brockley to Claverham.

Click here for a map of Bath & Bristol Turnpike Roads

Click here for a map of Somerset Turnpike Roads

Click here to return to Turnpikes Home

Return to Turnpikes in Gloucestershire general page

Known Tollhouses (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 51 sites identified of the 26 gates and 20 side bars reported by the Trust in 1840 (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

erected by (Turnpike Trust or Authority)

Bibliographic refs

Revised 17th Oct 2013

Old County

MSS National ID

UC road

Bristol to Wells

Coronation Road (Ashton)

57213

71754

AVBR

BRISTOL

Ashton Gate Toll House, 1-12, (No. 285)

Coronation Road, Bedminster

in front of Toll House Court, jct with North Street

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 171; Census 1851; Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Ashton District - gate closed in 1867. Annals of Bristol in the 18th Century; gate destroyed by Somerset farmers in 1749

AV.BRI01

A432

Bristol to Sodbury

Blackbird

60541

74243

AVBR

BRISTOL

Toll House, No. 250 Stapleton Road

on corner of Oxford Place (set back from frontage)

OS 1st Series; ; ; old ticket

Bristol

AV.BRI03

UC road

Westbury to Aust Passage

Dial

57459

77455

AVBR

BRISTOL

The Dial House

Channell's Hill Road, Westbury on Trym

jct with Trym Road, in the jct at bottom of hill before old bridge over River Trym

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.BRI02

Bristol to Brislington

Arno's Vale

603

716

AVBR

BRISTOL

Totterdown area, Bedminster

; ; ; old ticket

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 170; Census 1861

B4058

Bristol to Frenchay

Baptist Mills

AVBR

BRISTOL

by Wesleyian chapel and New Inn

nr Bridge over River Frome

; ; ; old Picture

Bristol

A38

Bristol to Winford

Bedminster

577

707

AVBR

BRISTOL

between Old Bridewell and Parson Street

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 170; Census 1851

Bristol to Keynsham

Brislington

AVBR

BRISTOL

Bedminster

; ; ; old Picture

Bristol

A4032

Bristol to Downend

Bristol

AVBR

BRISTOL

Tollgate House, Houlton Street

; ; ;

Bristol

UC road

Bristol to Clifton

Clifton Down

563

734

AVBR

BRISTOL

Clifton Down, top of Bridge Valley road - had a rustic portico

OS 1st Series; ; ; old picture

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Aust District - gate closed in 1867.

Bristol to Horfield

Cutler's Mill

AVBR

BRISTOL

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Horfield District - gate closed in 1867.

A420

Bristol to Stapleton

Lawford's

607

734

AVBR

BRISTOL

Lawfords Gate, St Phillips

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Stapleton District - gate closed in 1867.

A420

Bristol to Bitton

West Street

AVBR

BRISTOL

West Street

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Togghill & Bitton District - gate closed in 1867.

Bristol to Bitton

Packhorse Lane bar

AVBR

BRISTOL

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Togghill & Bitton District - gate closed in 1867.

Bristol to Bitton

Barrow Lane bar

AVBR

BRISTOL

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Togghill & Bitton District - gate closed in 1867.

Bristol to Wells

Parson Street

AVBR

BRISTOL

Parson Street (Highbury Road jct?)

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Dundry District - gate closed in 1867.

Bristol to Aust

Gallows Acre

AVBR

BRISTOL

nr Whiteladies

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Aust District - gate closed in 1867.

A37

Bristol to Whitchurch

Knowle

607

707

AVBR

BRISTOL

Upper Knowle

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 170

A37

Bristol to Dundry

Luckwell Lane

AVBR

BRISTOL

nr Ashton Gate (Luckwell Road)

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 171; Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Dundry District - gate closed in 1867.

A38

Bristol to Gloucester

Montpellier

AVBR

BRISTOL

Montpellier

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

Bristol to Portishead

Opp Ashton

AVBR

BRISTOL

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

Bristol to Horfield

Redland Road

AVBR

BRISTOL

Redland Road

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Horfield District - gate closed in 1867.

Bristol to Whitchurch

St John's Lane (Don John's Cross)

AVBR

BRISTOL

St John's Lane

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Whitchurcht District - gate closed in 1867. Annals of Bristol in the 18th Century; gate destroyed by Somerset farmers in 1749

UC road

Bristol to Woolcott Park

St Michael's Hill

583

735

AVBR

BRISTOL

Kingsdown area

; ; ; old Picture

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Aust District - gate closed in 1867.

A38

Bristol to Gloucester

Stokes Croft

AVBR

BRISTOL

Montpellier area

mentioned in Act

; ; named in 1819 Act; old Picture

Bristol

A37

Bristol to Wells

Totterdown

699

716

AVBR

BRISTOL

Totterdown, Wells Road, jct with St John's Lane

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 170; Census 1851

A4018

Bristol to Westbury

White Ladies

578

740

AVBR

BRISTOL

White Ladies

OS 1st Series; ; named in 1819 Act;

Bristol

Annals of Bristol in the 19th Century; Aust District - gate closed in 1867.

A37

Bristol to Whitchurch

Chelwood

62435

62061

AVBS

CHELWOOD

Tyreece

Whitley Batts Road

just N of the Chelwood Bridge roundabout

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 172; Census 1861

AV.CHE

B3114

Chew Magna to West Harptree

Chew Stoke

55914

61593

AVBS

CHEW STOKE

Turnpike Cottage

Stoke Hill

nr Stoke Inn

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 169; Census 1861

AV.CHS

Bath to Bristol

Saltford

68861

66474

AVBS

SALTFORD

Old Turnpike, No. 532

Bath Road

on corner approaching from Bath

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 173; Census 1871

AV.SAL

A37

Bristol to Wells

Whitchurch

613

677

AVBS

WHITCHURCH

corner of Maggs Lane

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 172

A370

Bristol to Congresbury

Blackwell

AVNS

BACKWELL

attacked in 1749 riots

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 173

A38

Bristol to Bridgwater

Churchill

448

598

AVNS

CHURCHILL

next gate to Sidcot; mentioned on Sidcot plaque

jct with A368

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 168; Census 1861

UC road

Bristol to Wells

Dundry

AVNS

DUNDRY

attacked in 1749 riots

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 173

A369

Bristol to Pill

Rownham

564

726

AVNS

LONG ASHTON

Rownham Hill

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 169; Census 1851

Bristol to Nailsea

Nailsea

AVNS

NAILSEA

attacked in 1749 riots

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 173

B3124

Portishead to Clevedon

Portishead

46671

76696

AVNS

PORTISHEAD AND NORTH WESTON

No. 1

Woodhill Road

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.POR

A371

Bristol to Bridgwater

Sidcot

42611

57355

AVNS

WINSCOMBE AND SANDFORD

Sidcot Gate Toll House

Sidcot Lane, jct with Bristol Road

blue plaque indicating was part of Bristol TP trust

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 167; Census 1861

AV.WIN

UC road (off B4427)

Iron Acton to Rudgeway

Rudgeway

6362

8805

AVSG

ALVESTON

The Bungalow

Church Road

on cut off section of road net to old abandoned church at Rudgeway

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.ALV

A4175

Bitton to Bridge Yate

Oldlands

67250

70659

AVSG

BITTON

Turnpike Cottage

Barry Road

jct with Cherry Garden Lane, opp. Chief Trading Post Nurseries

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

AV.BIT

A431

Bristol to Bath

Willsbridge

6658

7035

AVSG

BITTON

94A Bath Road (former Weighbridge)

jct with Keynsham Road

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

A431

Bristol to Bath

Bitton

686

694

AVSG

BITTON

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

UC road

Old Road Iron Acton to Bristol

Iron Acton

67639

83419

AVSG

IRON ACTON

Turnpike House

Station Road

on bend where short lane to station branches off road to by-pass

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.IRO01

B4427

Old Bristol to Gloucester

Froglands Cross

6445

8379

AVSG

IRON ACTON

Turnpike Cottage, Froglands Cross

Old Gloucester Road, Gaunt's Earthcott

at jct with Gaunt's Earthcott Lane

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.IRO03

UC road

Mangotsfield to Frenchay

Cleeve Wood

64462

77677

AVSG

KINGSWOOD

Turnpike Cottage (Cleeve Wood Lodge)

Cleeve Wood Road

eastern side of bridge, on slope to river

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.KIN01

B4427

Old Bristol to Gloucester

Hambrook

64052

78734

AVSG

KINGSWOOD

Tollhouse

Bristol Road, opp. Hambrook House, next to The Old Post House

opp. The Stream, 250m N of jct with Ring Road

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.KIN02

A432

Mangotsfield to Yate

Wick (Kendleshire)

661

787

AVSG

MANGOTSFIELD RURAL

jct S of Kembleshire Common

OS 1st Series; ; ;

Bristol

UC road

Mangotsfield to Yate

Siston Common

6686

7451

AVSG

SISTON

Sunney View Boarding Kennels (was Seven Winds)

Siston Common

at jct to Goose Green

; ; ;

Bristol

AV.SIS

A420

Bristol to Chippenham

Bridge Yate Common

6800

7328

AVSG

SISTON

Bridgeyate Common

now scrub

; ; ;

Bristol

A38

Bristol to Gloucester

Thornbury

6837

9329

AVSG

THORNBURY

Moorslade Lane

jct with B4510

; ; ;

Bristol

A38

Bristol to Bridgwater

Badgworth

39294

53232

SOSG

BADGWORTH

Turnpike Cottage

Church Lane

at jct of road to Badgworth

; ; ;

Bristol

SO.BAD

UC road (was old Bristol Road)

Bristol to Bridgwater

Cross (Compton)

412

547

SOSG

COMPTON BISHOP

assume this is at Cross on old coach road jct

on plaque at Sidcot

; ; ;

Bristol

Dowding J & Taylor P. (2013) The Toll-Houses of Somerset , p 168; Census 1861

Known Milestones

In the Milestone Society Database, 81 milestones are identified along this road. Based on the mileage reported by the Trust in 1840, would expect 173. Most are metal plates (some incised) attached to stones, some of which have earlier engravings. A series of cast iron posts, dated 1837, run to Cross

Extracts from The Annals of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century, by JOHN LATIMER– digitised by Google

1726.

In 1726, when a report was made to the Council that the roads leading to the city were “ extremely ruinous," a vote of £100 was made for their repair. But it was seen that more effectual measures were necessary, and a petition was presented to Parliament in the following session praying for power to erect turnpike gates. Evidence was given before a committee of the Commons as to the urgency of the case. It was deposed that all the roads near the city were dangerous to passengers, and that part of the London road, and several of the highways near Sodbury and Wotton-under-Edge, were not wide enough to allow two horses, going in opposite directions, to pass each other. A witness swore that one of his horses had been suffocated in the mud, and another that his team had been saved from a slough only by being pulled out by ropes. The road to Bath from Temple Gate to Totterdown was still only seven feet wide. The Bill received the Royal assent in April, 1727. It enacted that the members of Parliament for Bristol, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, the justices of the two shires, the members of the Corporation, and a great number of local gentry should be appointed trustees for the reparation of the roads, with power to levy tolls. Wagons, etc., with six horses or oxen were to pay 1s., with four 8d., with two 4d., and with one 2d, ; a pack horse Id., if with coals ^d ; there were also tolls for cattle and sheep. The limits of the trust extended from about ten to twelve miles on the chief roads out of Bristol, and the tolls were to continue for twenty-one years only. In accordance with the terms of the Act, turnpike gates were set up in order that tolls might be first collected on the 26th June. But the trustees forgot that they would have to reckon with the lawless mining population of Kingswood, roused to wrath by the charge imposed on the horses and donkeys which brought coal into the city. The colliers assembled in great numbers and pulled down all the gates, burning some, and throwing one barrier into the Avon. The mayor's letter to the Government, dated the 28th, and detailing the proceedings, is amongst the State Papers. His worship wrote : — " They are a set of ungovernable people, regardless of consequences. They extort money of people as they pass along the road, and treat them very rudely unless they give them some. They have passed through this city with clubs and staves in a noisy manner, but committed no violence here. I am persuaded, had any opposition been made, the consequences would have been fatal." Some of the gates were again erected, only to be demolished in a few hours, and the colliers would suffer no coal to enter the city. The price of fuel, ordinarily sold at Is. a horseload, having risen to 2s. 3d., the Council, on the 28th, ordered off messengers to " Swazey, [Swansea], to buy cole on account of the Chamber " for the use of the citizens — which turned out a somewhat costly procedure, for the Kingswood men returned to work, and the Welsh coal, when it arrived, had to be sold at a loss of £215, exclusive of £4 5s. worth of wine sent to the Customs Collector at " Swanzy " for his services. The turnpike trustees, supposing the disturbances at an end, had the toll-gates reconstructed; but the colliers again rose, and burnt the gate " near Durdham Down." Further outrages were prevented by a body of soldiers, who captured four of the rioters, and the gate was restored. But on the night after the troops had embarked for Ireland, all the gates were again demolished by men disguised in women's clothes and wearing high-crowned hats. To complete the joy of the mischief makers, the four men committed to prison had to be released. Parliament having omitted to impose any penalty upon assailants of turnpikes. After vainly struggling to perform their functions, the trustees asked for further legislative powers in 1730, stating that through their inability to borrow money, the roads remained wholly unimproved. It was hoped that by allowing animals carrying coal to pass toll free, no further difficulty would be encountered, but the remission had little effect. In the State Papers is a letter from Sir W. Codrington to the Duke of Newcastle, dated July 14th, 1731, stating that the house of Mr. Blathwaite, of Dyrham, who had made himself obnoxious by attempting to defend the turnpikes, had been attacked by 400 colliers, who threatened to demolish it. The writer rode to the spot with twenty of his tenants and servants; but he was forced to release four of the rioters previously captured, and to give the rest a hogshead of ale, before they would depart. Nearly all the gates were then down. The following is highly significant : — " I am afraid, my lord, these wretches would never have been so impudent if they had not been prompted by men of some fortune and figure ; and we have been informed that two or three bailiffs, as we call them, to some gentlemen, were seen to be a-drinking with the colliers the evening before they were at Mr. Blathwaiters.*' A week later, in a . letter dated from Bristol, Sir William reports that " the insolencies of the rioters are greater than ever, they having cut down some of the gates even at noon day, and are now collecting money of travellers where the gates stood. . . . The remaining part of the inhabited turnpike house at Yate was burnt down last night." Troops were sent to Bristol, but inspired no terror amongst the rioters, who continued to defy the law. The destructive spirit of the Kingswood men was singularly manifested in the following year, when a large body marched to Chippenham, and demolished the turnpike gate at Ford, near that town {London Journal, Sept. 23rd). Two years later, June, 1734, every gate between Bristol and Gloucester was destroyed by armed bands. In August, 1735, Sir William Codrington informed the Duke of Newcastle that the colliers still held the roads, sometimes extorting 50s. in a single day, and that if the Government would not render more help, " God knows how it may end' He added that a bailiff named Prichet, at Westerleigh, was " at the bottom of the whole affair." To complete the chaos, the rural trustees quarrelled with those representing Bristol; and Oldmixon, writing in 1735, asserted that "the roads, as bad as most in England, remain unrepaired to this day' Four years later, Ralph Allen, of Bath, in giving evidence on behalf of a local turnpike Bill, deposed that the Bristol Acts were still inoperative, "by reason the colliers have pulled down, and do constantly pull down, the turnpikes."

1749

In February, 1749, the Bristol turnpike trustees forwarded a petition to the House of Commons, setting forth that, notwithstanding the Act of 1727, the roads were still, owing to various causes, in as ruinous a condition as before the trust was created, and praying for a renewal of the powers about to expire. A petition was also presented on behalf of several of the neighbouring gentry, asking that certain " ruinous " roads, not included in the former Act, might be embraced in the new statute. The Bill, with extended powers, received the Royal Assent in May. In the hope of allaying discontent, carts laden with coal were exempted from toll. The farmers, however, had always detested the turnpikes, and the inclusion of additional roads in the trust irritated them into open revolt. During the month of July great bodies of rural labourers, styling themselves " Jack a Lents," some wearing shirts over their clothes, others naked to the waist, and all with blackened faces, twice destroyed the gates at Bedminster, Ashton and Don John's Cross, and threatened an attack on the city. On the 1st August, they came for the third time, with drums, colours, and arms, and demolished the toll houses on the Ashton and Dundry roads. Headed by a young gentleman-farmer of Nailsea carrying an improvised standard, they next proceeded to Bedminster, to be avenged on Stephen Durbin, the tything man, who had caused three rioters to be captured during the previous raids. After drinking freely they attacked Durbin's house, which by order of their leader was levelled with the ground. Subsequently the mob, finding Redcliff Gate closed, made its way to Totterdown, where it demolished the two gates and houses. The magistrates, aided by a number of constables and fifty sailors armed with cutlasses, at length appeared on the scene, and after severe fighting, in which one Farmer Barns, was conspicuous as a rioter, about thirty men, several of them severely wounded, were arrested on Knowle Hill. An affair so congenial with their habits would have excited the Kingswood colliers, even if the Somerset farmers had not prompted them with bribes. On the 3rd August they assembled in force, and almost all the remaining tollgates were burnt or destroyed by gunpowder, money being demanded from every traveller as a reward for this patriotic service. On the arrival of a regiment of dragoons the disturbances ceased, but letters were sent to the Council House threatening to blockade and burn the city if the arrested rioters were not released. (Five of these prisoners died in Newgate from smallpox.) The judges of assize were on circuit during the tumults, and special precautions had to be taken for their safety. The recorder was stopped at Pensford by a turbulent mob, which demanded money, but his firmness awed the rabble, and he was allowed to proceed. The Kingswood colliers maintained a nightly guard for several weeks after the riots, in order to defeat any attempt of the authorities to capture the ringleaders. In the correspondence between the mayor and the Government, part of which is in the British Museum, the inactivity displayed by the county gentry throughout the tumults is said to have increased the difficulties of the magistrates. (In a private account book of Mr. Gore, of Barrow Court, is the following remarkable entry: — August 26, 1753. To Mr. Hardwick, on my account, for cutting down the turnpikes, £10.) The sympathy of the farmers with the rioters was so unconcealed that the trials of eighteen of the Somerset prisoners were removed to Wiltshire; but not a single conviction was obtained there, the juries acquitting the ringleaders in spite of the clearest evidence of their guilt. Two men, concerned in pulling down Mr. Durbin's house, were condemned in Somerset on the testimony of an accomplice, and were executed at Ilchester. Their fate caused a deep sensation; and the rural war against turnpikes, maintained obstinately for upwards of twenty years, was at length sullenly abandoned. The improved roads, however, were long disliked by persons of conservative instincts. Nearly thirty years after this date Mr. Windham recorded in his diary Dr. Johnson's strong hostility to them. " Formerly," said the sage, " there were cheap places and dear places. Now all refuges were destroyed for elegant or genteel poverty, and men had no longer a hope to support them in their struggle through life. The roads moreover caused disunion of families by furnishing a market to each man's abilities, and destroying the dependence of one man on another."

1757

A Bill for the extension of local turnpikes having been brought into the House of Commons in 1758, some of the turnpike trustees petitioned for the inclusion in the measure of two more highways, namely, the road through Stoke Bishop to Shirehampton, and the road to Aust (the Welsh mail route), which " was up a very steep hill (Steep Street) going out of Bristol." To avoid the latter difficulty, the petitioners suggested that a new turnpike road should be made from Frog Lane " through certain grounds (the site of Park Street) to a gate on the Aust road called the White Lady's Gate." Clauses carrying out these proposals were introduced into the Bill, which became law. It was not until October, 1761, however, that the trustees resolved to proceed with the Whiteladies improvement. The Shirehampton turnpike opened out that district to the fashionable throng at the Hot Well, and excursions to Kingsweston inn and Penpole Hill became popular. For the accommodation of visitors to the latter, a building called the Breakfasting Room was erected, the patrons of which were permitted to ramble in the shrubberi.es of Kingsweston House.

1774

In the session of 1774 a Bill was promoted by the Bristol turnpike trustees for a renewal of their powers, then about to expire, and for the inclusion in the trust of Gallows Acre Lane, of the road from the top of Park Street to the bottom of Clifton Hill, of the lane from Stoke's Croft to the Blackbirds Inn Gate, Stapleton Road, and of the road from Gallows Acre Lane to Whiteladies' Road. The two last named proposals excited much local agitation, and petitions against them were adopted by the poor law guardians and by a public meeting of the citizens, on the ground that the large traffic between the Hot Well and Bath, as well as that between Wales and the South of England, then passing through Bristol, would be diverted, to the great loss of the inhabitants. The opposition was successful in forcing the trustees to modify their scheme. Power to make a turnpike road from the top of Stokers Croft to Stapleton Road was, however, obtained a few years later, and Ashley Road was opened in 1786.

1833

During the summer of 1833 the trustees of the Bristol turnpikes, with a view to improving the chief southern entrance to the city, caused a deep cutting to be made at Totterdown, near the junction of the Wells road with that from Bath. A very steep hill there, much disliked by stage coachmen, was thus practically removed. A similar improvement was effected at the same time near Clifton church, a new road being cut in front of Goldney House.

1866

At the annual meeting of the Bristol Turnpike trustees, in March, 1866, it was reported that the mortgage debt upon the entire trust which embraced 163 miles of road, and was, with one exception, the most extensive in England had been nearly paid off. The only charge remaining was one of £5,500 two of the northern sections. As the surplus receipts for a further period of eighteen months would clear off this burden, it was resolved that the tolls should be abolished on the Ist November, 1867. The resolution was carried by the narrow majority of 26 votes against 22, many of the rural trustees being opposed to a step which threw the maintenance of the roads on the local ratepayers, whilst some of the Bristol trustees objected that the abolition of tolls would entail a burden of £2,000 a year upon the citizens for repairing the eighteen miles of turnpike within the borough. In accordance with the resolution, the district was included in the Turnpike Act of 1866, under the provisions of which the powers of the trustees expired on the 1st November, 1867 when all the turnpike gates were removed. Within the borough there were no less than fifteen of those obstacles to locomotion, namely : Whiteladies, St. Michael's, Clifton Down and Gallows Acre gates in the Aust district ; Cutler's Mills and Redland Road gates in the Horfield district ; St. John's Lane gate in the Whitchurch district ; Lawford's and Baptist Mills gates in the Stapleton district; West Street gate, and bars at Packhorse and Barrow Lanes in the Toghill and Bitton district ; Parson Street and Luckwell Lane gates in the Dundry district; and Coronation Road gate in the Ashton trust. The sites of the toll-houses were in most cases claimed by the owners of the adjoining property, and the buildings were demolished.* The surplus funds of the trust (£6,760) were divided amongst the local highway authorities.

The Clifton toll-house at the top of Bridge Valley Road had a large rustic portico, under which the public were accustomed to take shelter during sudden showers of rain. A member of the Council proposed that the construction should be preserved for the sake of its utility ; but his suggestion met with no support, and promenaders are worse off now than they were twenty years ago.

Bristol Turnpike Trust (updated 17th Oct 2013)

List of Acts

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

List of Roads

Known Tollhouses (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 51 sites identified of the 26 gates and 20 side bars reported by the Trust in 1840 (survivors in bold)

Known Milestones

Bristol Turnpike Trust (updated 17^th Oct 2013)