This trust was created
in 1753 as a multi-centred trust Its
main responsibilities were (a) the east/west road on the high ground above the Somerset
Levels and (b) a network of minor roads into the three market towns of
mid-Somerset..
1753 - Read Feb 26 ;Comm 5 Mar
A Petition of gents, clergy freeholders land holders and inhabitants of Langport, Somerton and places adjacent, that highway from Redpost to Curry Rivell and the towns of Langfort and Somerton to Butwell near the bottom of Almsfordhill in Parish of Amsford
And from Bell Inn in Curry Rivell thru
And from
Mar 6th Pet gents etc of Langport and Somerton; Mr Thomas Harris said that several of roads are very bad, narrow and dangerous
Mr Hughes confirmed this.
|
Langport,
Somerton and Castle Cary |
Red Post Fivehead
to Langport |
26 Geo2 c56 |
1753 |
|
|
|
|
18 Geo3 c100 |
1778 |
|
|
|
|
32 Geo3 c130 |
1792 |
|
|
|
Includes road
thru Muchelney |
5 Geo4 c98 |
1824 |
|
|
|
|
1&2 Wil4 c32 |
1831 |
1845 |
|
|
|
20&21 Vic |
1857 |
|
|
|
Expired |
|
|
1879 |
Langport
1824
An Act for more
effectually repairing and improving certain Roads leading to, through, and from
the Towns of Langport, Somerton, and Castle Cary, in the County of Somerset,
and for making and improving other Roads in the said County. [3d June 1824.]
Langport
1831
An Act for
amending certain Roads in the County of Somerset, and for placing them and
other Roads under the Care and Management of the Trustees of the Langport,
Somerton, and Castle Cary Roads. [30th July 1831.]
John Samuel Warren of Langport Eastover (clerk to the trust) reported
There are 80 miles 6 furl. of road through 46 parishes – 60 miles
repaired by the trustees; the parishes contribute 6s to 7s in the pound towards
repair of about 20 miles and about 20 miles are repaired by the parishes alone.
14 toll gates and 9 side bar
The roads are stated to be in “good” repair but those parts in the hands
of Parish surveyors are worst – no part under indictment for want of repair.
In “Return of length of road in each Turnpike
Trust in
Trust reported 70
miles 4 furl. 148 yds (10 miles less than in 1840)
BPP (1857) No. 5.—LANGPORT, SOMERTON, AND
CASTLE
The Local Act for these roads (the 5th of George IV. cap. 98.) repealed the previous Acts of the 26th of George II, and the 18th and 32nd of George III., and contained provisions 'to make and improve certain, additional lines of road. The terms of such Act would have expired with the Session of 1846, but it has been extended by the several Turnpike Acts Continuance Acts until the 1st day of November 1857.
In the year 1831 an Act was passed (the 1st and 2nd of William IV. cap. 32.) " For amending certain roads in the county of Somerset, and for placing them and other roads under the care and management of the Trustees of the "Langport, Somerton and Castle Cary Roads" But the Clerk states that such Act was never" acted upon in any way.
The roads belonging to this Trust
were, for the purpose of collecting the tolls, divided into seven districts,
under section 4 of the Local Act of 1824. It appears that these several roads
were completed, and formed the Trust
roads, "except the road from
|
Divisions. |
Length of Road M
fu yd |
Toll gates. Gate bar |
Observations. |
|
|
Langport |
11 |
6 14 |
°1 1 |
Clear each other. |
|
Long
Sutton - - |
10 |
5 20 |
3 2 |
The gates about 3 miles apart ; each clears the other next
passed through. |
|
Castle
|
• 5 |
3 39 |
1 1 |
Clear each other,
and clear Clanville Gate"
on the But well district. |
|
Muchelney |
8 |
6 16 |
3 0 |
About 3 miles apart, and one payment clears |
|
Aller - |
9 |
1 38 |
2 2 |
The gates
between 7 and 8 miles apart ; two toll
payments. |
|
Somerton
and Street - |
10 |
3 11 |
2 0 |
About 2 miles apart, and clear each other; the Street-Gate also clears the Butwell Gate on the
Butwell district. |
|
Butwell. |
11 |
0 18 |
2 2 |
The gates about 9 miles- apart; toll being payable
on each, but one clears a gate on the Castle |
|
Total |
67 |
3 36 |
14 8 |
|
The length of road above stated includes 5 furlongs 18 poles of road repaired by .the county, and 3 furlongs repaired by the " Martock " Turnpike Trust.
The
full rates of toll allowed by section 16 of the Local Act are not levied upon all classes of traffic, the reduced tolls
being :—On each horse, &c.(if more than one) drawing any waggon,
cart, &c. having the wheels not less than 6 inches in width 4d. instead
of 6d,, and with wheels 4.5 inches
wide, and less than 6 inches, 5d, instead
of 6d;- a single ass drawing a cart 4-d. instead of 6d.; for
every horse, &c. not drawing l.5d. instead of 2d; for .every ox, &c;
0.75d instead of 1d.; and
for every calf, sheep, &.0.25d. instead of 0.5d.
The debt upon this Trust in 1835 amounted to £19,990, including £100. borrowed in that year; the sum of £300. was also borrowed in 1843 and £l,000. in 1845, but by reason of various payments the debt became reduced in 1852 to the sum of £17.590. which still remains due.
The present debt consists of 89 deeds poll or mortgage securities of 50/. each, bearing interest-at £4-per-cent; - £ 4,450
And
156 deeds poll or mortgage securities bearing interest at £5. percent. £13,140
......
Total
debt £ 17,590
The Clerk explains that the sum of £300 was borrowed in 1843 to pay off persons who wanted their money ; and that the £1,000 borrowed in 1845 was to pay off a balance due to the Treasurer, which had been for several years accumulating, and was mainly incurred by reducing hills and making other improvements in the roads.
The accounts show, that the toll income has been
reduced since the year 1837.but has not
varied to any considerable extent since 1843 except in 1855, when the
amount was stated at £1,869 10s. l0d but there remained due for arrears of toll that year the sum of £12. 2. 2d.The
parishes have contributed annually in aid of the Trust funds; the
amounts have varied, but have occasionally
exceeded half the cost of repairs. The items of expenditure include the costs of repairing the roads aided by the
parishes; salaries (increased from £140 to £205. per annum); law
charges; interest of debt, paid nearly in full; improvements; and
portions of the principal debt. The sum of £1628 7s. 4d. was applied to the payment of debt in 1848 and
four following years, and was accepted
by the creditors as composition for debts amounting to £2.000.
The increased salary paid to the Surveyor has been thus explained:—" Previously to 1844- the repairs of the roads were farmed by various contractors, but about that time the Trustees determined to repair the roads themselves under the superintendence of their Surveyor, whereby they anticipated a very considerable saving in the expenses; they therefore in November 1844 appointed a new Surveyor in lieu of their former one, at, for the first three years, £120, per year, with additional payments of £23. per year for the use of scraping machines of which he was the patentee, and £12. per year for making up certain accounts and calculations. This new arrangement effected a saving of many hundreds a year in the expense of repairing the road. The Surveyor's salary was carried into the account as £120. per year for 1845, 1846, and 1847; the additional payments amounting to £35 being carried into incidental expenses and tradesmen's bills —but after that time the whole £155 was carried in as Surveyor's salary."
On the Local Acts for this Trust being excepted in the Turnpike Continuance Act, the Trustees held a meeting on the subject, and resolved, "That if is absolutely necessary that a new Act of Parliament should be passed to alter the application of the Tolls, and to enable the Trustees to make arrangements for paying off their debt." At a subsequent meeting, held on the 30th of October 1856, it was resolved, " That powers be taken in the proposed Act of Parliament, for making Turnpike the road from Somerton towards Ilchester according to the plan now produced, it being understood that such road is not to be made Turnpike unless the funds for making and completing it be raised by subscription so as not either directly or indirectly to burthen the Trust with the expense of making it.
" Resolved also, that powers be taken in the proposed new Act, for improving Somerton Hill according to the plan produced; it being understood that "the funds for doing it be raised by subscription so as not either directly or indirectly to burthen the Trust with the expense of so doing."
The Clerk states that " no proposals have been made to the creditors to reduce the rates of interest, as the Trustees considered that unless they could legally set apart a sinking fund to pay off the debt (which they could not) the reduction would not be accepted. The creditors however, in accordance with Sir George Grey's suggestion, had notice of the intended application to Parliament, together with a statement that it was proposed to introduce power to reduce the Rate of interest and form a sinking fund, for the gradual extinction of the debt."
On the 12th of January last, a meeting of the creditors was held to consider the provisions of the proposed Bill, when certain resolutions were passed, approving of the establishment of a sinking fund, and recommending that the rate of interest should be reduced, but not to less than £3 10s. per cent, which resolutions were afterwards submitted to the Trustees, and received their sanction. [The views of the creditors are fully set forth in the memorial annexed to this Report]
In the present application to Parliament it is proposed to repeal the existing Act of the 5th of George IV. (without mentioning the subsequent Act of the 1st and 2nd of William IV.), and to take other powers in lieu thereof, for a term of thirty-one years.
Clause 2 continues the liabilities of the Trust,—without the usual exception as to such debts and engagements as may be reduced, varied, or extinguished by the new Act,
Clause 9 describes the roads belonging; to the Trust,—not in districts as described in the present Act, but in separate Lines with certain portions of road excepted at the end of this clause. [The Clerk states that this clause includes all the roads mentioned in section 4 of the Local Act of 1824, except the road from Marshall's Elm to Piper's Inn, and the road from the poorhouse at Lovington to the cross roads from Ilchester to Shepton Mallett, and except a few small portions of road abandoned on making deviations at various times. He also states that "the roads have not for many years past been treated as separate districts, and it is not the intention or wish of the Trustees that they should be so treated."]
Clause 11 describes the new roads proposed to be added to the Trust. Respecting these
roads the following particulars have been furnished:—
Proposed Road length Estimated cost
From Somerton to Catsgore Fram 2m 1f 23p £411 -17-8
From Somerton Hill to near the
[On referring to the map, it appears that of the above, the first-named
road is an existing highway, and is nearly parallel with a. line of road belonging to the Trust; and that the second would
form a new entrance into the town of
Clause 17 restricts the Trustees from making the new roads until the necessary money has been subscribed for that purpose, and prohibits any portion of the Trust funds from being applied in making or in first putting in repair such roads, or in repaying any such money subscribed, or interest thereon. [The Clerk states that the sum of £440 has been subscribed, and that such amount is not to bear interest, nor to be repaid.]
Clause 20 allows three years for the compulsory purchase of land, and clause 21 allows five years for completing the works.
Clause 22 specifies the tolls which may he taken on and after the 1st day of January next. These tolls are for the must part fully as high as the tolls allowed by the existing Local Act; and upon horses, &c. (if more than one) drawing any waggon, cart, &c., one half more than the scale of tolls at present collected. The proposed tolls on horses not drawing, and on cattle, sheep, &c., are also higher than the present tolls. In this clause an additional toll of 1s per wheel is proposed on carriages moved by steam or machinery; the tolls chargeable in respect to waggons, carts, &c,, are also to be extended to horses, &c. "drawing any steam-engine, threshing-machine, or other implement of husbandry let out for hire."
Clause 24. limits the payments of toll, but differs materially from section 17 of the Local Act of 1864, by omitting the words "for passing or repassing any time or times," and by restricting each toll payment to the same gate, instead of allowing a free passage at any other gate on the same district within six miles, or allowing toll upon one line of road 10 clear any gate on another line within three miles, at the discretion of the Trustees, as now sanctioned by section 18.
Clause 24 allows certain exemptions from toll, and limits other exemptions, being nearly similar to section 21 of the existing Act.
Clause 29
allows the Trustees to reduce the tolls, " to any sum or sums of money not less than the tolls which are now
payable," without reference to the consent of the creditors. [This clause differs from section 23 of the
present Local Act, and also sets aside certain provisions of the General
Turnpike Act.] It is proposed by the clause 30 to apply the funds as under :—
1st. In paying the expenses of obtaining the Act.
2nd. In repairing toll-houses, gates, &c., and in paying the
officer-of the Trust (without limiting the amount).
3rd. In paying the interest on
the principal debt "now or hereafter to be due," (without stating the rate per cent.)
4.th. In paying off (as regulated by clause 32) " a portion of the
debt,
" in the discretion of the said Trustees."
Lastly in maintaining, repairing and improving the said roads.”
This clause differs from section 29. of the Local Act of 1824, by which the principal debt was directed to be paid " lastly ;" it is now proposed to postpone the repair of the road until after paying off portions of the debt, at the discretion of the Trustees.
.Clause 31 specifies the amount and description of the Trust debts, but the number of deeds poll at £5. per .cent, interest, appears to be incorrectly stated:"
Clause 32 regulates the mode of paying off the debt, but appears intended to apply to larger sums than £200, and that the offers of composition are to be made at the general annual meetings only.
Clause 34 relates to the roads in towns. [The Clerk states that no road will be excluded from the Trust nor will any toll-gate be removed by the operation of this clause.]
It is proposed by clause 36 to grant a term of thirty-one, in lieu of the customary term of twenty-one, years.
There are no clauses in the new Bill, (1) to regulate or limit the number of toll payments, or to determine the distance within which a second toll cannot be collected ; (2) to reduce the rates of interest; and (3) to prevent the interest from accruing until the costs of the Act have been defrayed. Neither is there any provision in the new Bill either to continue the powers or to repeal the Local Act of the 1st and 2nd of William IV. cap. 32. relating to this Trust,—but the Clerk states that it is not intended to keep such Act alive, as it is the wish 'that it should be allowed to expire. It appears, however; proper to 'observe that inquiries have been made of the- Clerk respecting the operation of sections 11 and 12. of the Act referred to, to ascertain by whom the costs of such Act were defrayed, and whether the Trustees have continued to collect tolls and to expend money in repairing the streets or roads within the towns of Langport, Somerton, and Castle Cary under the impression that by section 11 the Trustees were altogether restricted from collecting or expending any money in the towns named, from the passing of such Act in the year 1831. From the reply of the Clerk it appears that he understands section 11 to apply to the Act of 1831 only, for he states " that no money has been borrowed and no tolls " whatever have been collected under the 1st and 2nd William IV. cap. 32. " by the Trustees of the Langport, Somerton, and Castle Cary Turnpike, and " consequently the Trustees cannot have expended any of such monies Or tolls " in the repairs, &c. of the streets, &c. in the towns of Langport, Somerton, or Castle Cary, nor have the Trustees applied any of the money borrowed by virtue of either of the said Acts since the passing of that of the 1st and " 2nd William IV. in or towards such repairs, &c." Respecting section 12, the Clerk states that the expenses of passing such Act were paid out of the monies which came to the hands of the Trustees in virtue of the Local Act of the 5th of George IV. as directed.
The chief questions for consideration in this case are :—The scale of tolls to be allowed and the number of toll payments ; the rate of interest to be paid in future ; and in what proportions the funds are to be applied, for repairing the road, and paying off the principal debt. It will also have to be determined whether the provisions of section 11 of the 1st and 2nd of William IV. cap. 32. respecting the roads in the towns of Langport, Somerton, and Castle Cary ought to be revived.
On the 19th of February 1857, a memorial on behalf of nearly three-fourths of the mortgagees was forwarded to Sir George Grey, praying that he would support the introduction of certain provisions into the new Bill. According to the-usual practice in similar cases the Secretary of State declined to interfere.
(roads identified and mapped in “Somerset Roads
– the Legacy of Turnpike, by Bentley and Murless 1985”)
A372 Langport to Cobb Dor on A303
A378 Fivehead to Langport
B3153 Langport to Castle cary
B3168 Curry Rivel to Westport and Lopen Head
B3151 Somerton to Street & Somerton to
Kingsdon
A39 Piper’s Inn t
Marshall’s Elm and Kingweston
A359 A359 to Sparkford
B3152 Ansford to
castle Cary and Galhampton
And several unclassed
roads
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here for a map of Somerset Turnpike Roads
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|
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 |
|
A372 |
Langport to
Bridgwater |
Chedzoy |
ST |
328 |
352 |
SOSG |
WESTONZOYLAND |
Westonzoyland
Road |
|
|
; ; ; |
|
|
A372 |
Langport to
Bridgwater |
Plotstream |
ST |
40980 |
28571 |
SOSS |
ALLER |
Turnpike
Cottage |
Plot
Stream, Middle Moor |
between
Langport and Aller |
; Trust map
1830; ; |
|
|
A372 |
Langport to
Bridgwater |
Beer Side |
ST |
403 |
310 |
SOSS |
ALLER |
Beer Rd jct |
|
|
; ; ; |
|
|
A359 |
Bruton to
Sparkford |
Galhampton |
ST |
63668 |
30281 |
SOSS |
CASTLE CARY |
Toll House |
High Road
at jct with Galhampton Hill |
in the
branch of the junction |
; Trust map
1830; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
B3153 |
Castle Cary to
Somerton |
Clanville |
ST |
6219 |
3283 |
SOSS |
CASTLE CARY |
reported derelict
in 1985; demolished 1986 |
|
OS 1st Series;
Trust map 1830; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
||
|
A359 |
Bruton to
Sparkford |
Smallway |
ST |
639 |
305 |
SOSS |
CASTLE CARY |
Galhampton Hill |
|
|
; Trust map 1830;
Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
B3152 |
Castle Cary to
Smallway |
Shepherd's Cross
(Galhandon) |
ST |
637 |
310 |
SOSS |
CASTLE CARY |
jct Cooper's Ash
Lane, Broadway lane |
|
|
; Trust map 1830;
Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
UC road |
Somerton to
Dundon |
Dunden |
ST |
48 |
30 |
SOSS |
COMPTON DUNDON |
|
|
|
; ; Turnpike
Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
UC road |
Muckelney
to Broom Bars |
Kingsbury |
ST |
43513 |
21254 |
SOSS |
KINGSBURY
EPISCOPI |
The Toll
House |
Thorney
Road |
close to
recreation ground |
; Trust map
1830; ; |
|
|
A372 |
Langport to
Bridgwater |
Catsgore |
ST |
513 |
255 |
SOSS |
KINGSDON |
Crane Hill (E of
Catsgore) |
|
|
; Trust map 1830;
Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
A3151 |
Ilchester to
Somerton |
Kingsdon Hill |
ST |
510 |
270 |
SOSS |
KINGSDON |
rebuilt after
fire in 1849 |
|
|
; Trust map 1830;
Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
A378 |
Langport to Curry
Rivel |
Longport
(Portfield) |
ST |
411 |
264 |
SOSS |
LANGPORT |
Portway,
Portfield |
|
|
; ; Turnpike
Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
A378 |
Langport to Curry
Rivel |
Westover
(Langport) |
ST |
410 |
265 |
SOSS |
LANGPORT |
Portway, Westover |
|
|
OS 1st Series; ;
Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
A372 |
Langport to
Bridgwater |
Long Sutton |
ST |
463 |
263 |
SOSS |
LONG SUTTON |
|
|
|
; ; Turnpike
Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
B3153 |
Castle Cary to
Somerton |
East Lydford side |
ST |
57 |
31 |
SOSS |
LOVINGTON |
East Lydford |
|
|
; ; Turnpike
Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
B3153 |
Castle Cary to
Somerton |
Lovington side |
ST |
59 |
32 |
SOSS |
LOVINGTON |
|
|
|
; ; Turnpike
Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
UC road |
Muckelney
to Langport |
Muchelney |
ST |
42908 |
24996 |
SOSS |
MUCHELNEY |
The Old
Toll House |
Langport
Road |
just north
of Muchelney Abbey |
; Trust map
1830; ; |
|
|
B3153 |
Castle Cary to
Somerton |
Butwell |
ST |
50 |
29 |
SOSS |
SOMERTON |
Snap Hill |
|
|
; ; Turnpike
Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
A3151 |
Somerton to
Street |
Street |
ST |
496 |
291 |
SOSS |
SOMERTON |
Littleton Hill |
|
|
; Trust map 1830;
Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; |
|
|
UC road |
Langport to South
Petherton |
West Lambrook |
ST |
413 |
184 |
SOSS |
SOUTH PETHERTON |
Lambrook Gate |
|
|
; ; ; |
|
|
UC road (beside
A303) |
Sparkford to
Langport |
Podimore |
ST |
55 |
25 |
SOSS |
WEST CAMEL |
|
|
|
; ; ; |
|
In the Milestone
Society Database, 18 milestones are identified along this road, mostly on the
A372 and B3151, most in a designs referred to as Classical casting.. Based on the mileage
reported by the Trust in 1840, would expect 81.
