A458 road

Last updated

UK road A458.svg
A458
The A458 Enville - geograph.org.uk - 1510152.jpg
Route information
Maintained by National Highways, English local authorities and North & Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency
Length86 mi (138 km)
Major junctions
West end Mallwyd
Major intersectionsUK road A470.svg A470
UK road A495.svg A495
UK road A490.svg A490
UK road A483.svg A483
UK road A5.svg A5
UK road A49.svg A49
UK road A4169.svg A4169
UK road A442.svg A442
UK road A454.svg A454
UK road A449.svg A449
UK road A491.svg A491
UK road A459.svg A459
UK road A456.svg A456
East end Halesowen
Location
Country United Kingdom
Primary
destinations
Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Stourbridge
Road network
UK road A457.svg A457 UK road A459.svg A459

The A458 is a route on the UK highway network that runs from Mallwyd, near Machynlleth, in Wales, merging with the A456 Hagley Road and the Quinton Expressway on the outskirts of Birmingham, in England. On the way it passes through Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth, Stourbridge and Halesowen

Contents

History

Welshpool to Shrewsbury

The road was one of several from "Welch Gate and Cotton Hill" (sic) turnpiked on 1758. [1] Between Buttington and Halfway House the original course of the road was abandoned after it was disturnpiked in 1837. It was replaced by a new road built along the foot of Moelygolfa (hill), built in 1801. This Turnpike Trust ended in 1877. [2]

Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth

This road is likely to be Anglo-Saxon in origin, as it links the burhs of Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury. It was used by the army of Henry I, which cleared trees near it on Wenlock Edge to make the road safe.[ citation needed ] The road was turnpiked in 1752, the trust being solely concerned with this road. It remained a turnpike until 1875. [3] [4]

The Bridgnorth bypass, opened in 1985, was classified as A458, taking the main road around the south of the town, [5] previously it ran through Low Town, but ran along low ground at the foot of the hillside up to the town centre.

Bridgnorth to Quinton

The final section of the road was a late creation, consisting of a road laid out in 1805 when Morfe Heath was enclosed (as far as Six Ashes and then various existing roads for the rest of its route. This was turnpiked in 1816 and remained under the control of a trust until 1877. It terminates in the Quinton area on Halesowen's border with Birmingham and Oldbury. The split junction with Stourbridge Ring Road on the western side of the town replaced the formerly two way narrow section of the road but which necessitated the demolition of buildings on the new alignment.

Until the 1950s, it terminated in Halesowen town centre, but was extended approximately two miles eastwards in the 1950s along the former route of the A456, which was by-passed on a new road around the south of the town. [6] [7]

See also

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References

  1. Statute 31 Geo. 2. c. 67.
  2. Trinder, Barrie. Industrial Archaeology of Shropshire. pp. 192, 255.
  3. Statute 25 Geo. 2. c. 49
  4. B. Trinder, 253.
  5. geograph.org.uk
  6. Statute 56 Geo. 3. c.16
  7. B. Trinder, 258.

52°42′43″N2°52′45″W / 52.71183°N 2.87928°W / 52.71183; -2.87928