Wincanton Turnpike Trust                    (updated 23rd Sept 2013)

This trust was created in 1756.  Its main responsibilities were a network of roads radiating from the market town into SE Somerset.

List of Acts

Wincanton

 

29 Geo2 c49

1756

 

 

 

17 Geo3 c93

1777

 

 

 

38 Geo3 c50

1798

 

 

 

58 Geo3

1818

1839

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

1874

Wincanton 1798

An Act for continuing for Twenty-one Years, and from thence to the End of the then next Session of Parliament, the Term, and altering and enlarging the Powers of Two Acts, the One passed in the Twenty-ninth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, and the other in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, for repairing and widening the Road from the Eighteen Mile Stone, beyond Willoughby Hedge, through the Town of Mere, in the County of Wilts, and through Wincanton to Charlton Houthorn, and from thence to Milborne Port, and from Willoughby Hedge aforesaid to the West End of Long Lane in Kilmington, and from Wincanton aforesaid, to the Sherborn Turnpike Cross Gate, on Cattle Hill; and from Wincanton to Sparkford, in the County of Somerset; and also for altering, improving, and keeping in Repair, several other Roads communicating therewith. [1st June 1798.]

Wincanton 1818;

An Act for continuing and amending an Act of His late Majesty, and Two Acts of His present Majesty, for repairing several Roads leading to and from the Town of Wincanton, and the Roads communicating therewith, in the Counties of Somerset, Wilts, and Dorset. [8th May 1818.]

 

Wincanton paving 1798

An Act for paving the Footways, and for cleansing, lighting, and regulating the Streets, Lanes, and other publick Passages and Places, within the Town of Wincanton, in the County of Somerset; and for removing and preventing Nuisances, Annoyances, and Obstructions therein. [1st June 1798.]

 

Select Committee on State of Roads 1840

George and Henry Messiter of Wincanton (clerks to the trust) reported

There are 41 miles 3 furl of road through 25 parishes – all repaired by the trustees

9 toll gates

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

 

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

Trust reported 41 miles 3 furl. 148 yds (similar to 1840)

List of Roads

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

A303 Sparkford Bridge to Bourton (dorset)

A357 Lattiford to Seven wells

A371 Cattle Hill to Wincanton

B3081 wincanton to shepton Montague

And other sections of UC road

 

Click here for a map of Somerset Turnpike Roads

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Return to Turnpikes in Somerset general page

 


Known Tollhouses (extracts from Tollhouse National database) 12 sites identified of the 9 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

Revised 23rd Sept 2013

UC road

Castle Cary to Wincanton

Green Lanes

ST

66662

29548

SOSS

BRATTON SEYMOUR

The Old Toll House

Green Lanes, Yarlington

at a junction off the current main road up the hill

; ; ;

B3081

Wincanton to Bruton

Stoney Stoke

ST

712

320

SOSS

CHARLTON MUSGROVE

Stoney Stoke (Round Hill)

old turnpike house in lengths to repair 1823

 

; ; ;

A371

Wincanton to Castle Cary

Pitcombe

ST

650

311

SOSS

PITCOMBE

jct with Langport and Sherborne Trusts

 

 

; Trust map 1830; ;

UC road (was A303)

Amesbury to Ilminster

East

ST

71672

28675

SOSS

WINCANTON

The Old Toll House, East Gate, No. 68

High Street

jct with Bayford Hill and Common Road (had Weighing engine)

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; toll advert 1824 & 13 & 12;

A303

Wincanton to Shalford

Ball Common

ST

74

30

SOSS

WINCANTON

E of town nr Riding Gate jct with B3092

 

 

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; toll advert 1824;

B3081

Bruton to Wincanton

Verrington

ST

72

30

SOSS

WINCANTON

Verrington

 

 

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; toll advert 1824;

B3081 (was A303)

Wincanton to Sparkford

South

ST

713

282

SOSS

WINCANTON

Southgate, jct of Church Lane and Tithing

 

 

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824 advert 1813 & 12;

UC road (was A371)

Wincanton to Castle Cary

West

ST

70

28

SOSS

WINCANTON

Westhill

 

 

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; advert 1813 & 12;

B3092

Maiden Bradley to Stourton & Zeal

Norton

ST

795

372

WISA

MAIDEN BRADLEY WITH YARNFIELD

N of Norton Ferris; let with Stourton

Yarnfield was in Somerset

 

OS 1st Series; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824;

UC road

Mere to Gasper (lost in Gasper)

Stourton

ST

780

332

WISA

STOURTON WITH GASPER

old route to N of A303

 

 

; T.B. Greenwood Wilts map 1820.; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; toll advert 1824 23 & & 12;

A303

Wilton to Mere

Willoughby Hedge

ST

871

336

WISA

WEST KNOYLE

Willoughby Hedge, jct with A303

 

 

OS 1st Series; T.B. Greenwood Wilts map 1820.; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824; toll advert 1824 & 13 & 12;

UC road (was A303)

Wincanton to Zeals

Zeals

ST

79

32

WISA

ZEALS

 

 

 

; ; Turnpike Trust Returns 1824;

 

Known Milestones

In the Milestone Society Database, 11 milestones are identified along this road, mostly on the A303, A371 and B3145 and UC roads most in a design referred to as Wincanton plate. Based on the mileage reported by the Trust in 1840, would expect 41.