Chester and Wrexham Turnpike

Last updated

The last turnpike road between Chester and Wrexham in the United Kingdom was built in 1752 and follows the same route as the A483 road leaving Chester and thereafter the B5445 towards Wrexham.

Contents

History

A toll road between Chester and Wrexham was in place before 1315 because King Edward III 3rd decreed that a toll road that led to Wrexham through the Lache was part of the boundary of the City of Chester. [1] The last turnpike road between Chester and Wrexham was constructed in 1756, when the Shrewsbury to Wrexham Turnpike Trust extended its road to Chester. [2] The turnpike road leaves Chester following the same route as the contemporary A483, [3] and then along the B5445 towards Wrexham. [4] The road crossed the River Alyn near to the Rossett watermill, [5] then up the hill to the village of Marford. [4] It entered Wrexham next to the Acton Smithy, Acton where there was a toll booth. [6] At that location, it intersected with the Acton to Plas Coch, Broughton turnpike road, which was directly opposite to the Acton Smithy. [7] It then passed by a further toll booth which is now known as the junction between Chester Road and Box Lane just prior to entering the town centre . [6]

Management

In 1752, the Shrewsbury to Wrexham Turnpike Trust was formed to create and manage a toll road between the two towns. [8] It was the first turnpike trust to become involved in the management of roads in Wales. [8] In 1756, the trust extended its road from Wrexham to Chester. In 1828, the Chester and Wrexham Turnpike Trust was established to takeover the management of the Shrewsbury to Chester turnpike road on the section between Wrexham and Chester. [2]

Traffic

The Chester to Wrexham turnpike was the second busiest road that led out of Chester. [9] It was because it was less effected by canal construction than other roads because of the gradient of the Gresford Bank. [9] It gave the transporters on the route a monopoly on carrying goods between the two towns. [9] In 1827 to 1828 it was estimated the road was used by 39,312 scheduled carriages, 11,395 private carriages, and 6,267 people on foot or horseback. [9] Additionally, scheduled freight carriages transported 17,160 tonnes of goods and 13,150 tonnes was carried privately. [9]

Abolition

The Annual Turnpike Continuance Acts 1872 specified that the legislation to maintain the Chester to Wrexham turnpike road would expire no later than 1 November 1877. [10] Therefore, it was disturnpiked in 1877. [2] In December 1877, when the Wrexham District Highway Board had taken over responsibility for the road it mentioned it was in a poor condition and required much work to rectify it. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham</span> City in north-east Wales

Wrexham is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the county of Denbighshire, and later the county of Clwyd in 1974, it has been the principal settlement of Wrexham County Borough since 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellesmere, Shropshire</span> Town in Shropshire, England

Ellesmere is a town in Shropshire, England, located near the Welsh border and the towns of Oswestry and Whitchurch, and the Welsh city of Wrexham. It is notable for its proximity to a number of prominent Meres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham County Borough</span> County borough in Wales

Wrexham County Borough is a county borough, with city status, in the north-east of Wales. It borders England to the east and south-east, Powys to the south-west, Denbighshire to the west and Flintshire to the north-west. The county borough has a population of 136,055. The city of Wrexham is its largest settlement, which together with villages such as Gwersyllt, New Broughton, Bradley and Rhostyllen form a built-up area with 65,692 residents. Villages in the county borough also include Holt, Ruabon, Rhosllanerchrugog, Johnstown, Acrefair, Bangor-on-Dee, and Coedpoeth amongst others. The county borough has one other outlying town, Chirk, to its south, and various rural settlements in the county borough's large salient in the Ceiriog Valley, and the English Maelor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Wales</span> Geographic region in Wales

North Wales is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia National Park and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, known for its mountains, waterfalls and trails, wholly within the region. Its population is concentrated in the north-east and northern coastal areas, with significant Welsh-speaking populations in its western and rural areas. North Wales is imprecisely defined, lacking any exact definition or administrative structure. It is commonly defined administratively as its six most northern principal areas, but other definitions exist, with Montgomeryshire historically considered to be part of the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A458 road</span> Road in England & Wales

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury–Chester line</span> Railway line in England and Wales

The Shrewsbury–Chester line is a railway line between Chester and Shrewsbury in England, with the line passing through Wrexham County Borough in Wales. Passenger train services are operated by Transport for Wales Rail between the northern terminal of Chester and Shrewsbury in the south as part of the Wales & Borders franchise. Some additional services, starting part way along the line to London Euston via Chester are operated by Avanti West Coast. The line was built in 1846 by the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway, with the engineer for the line being Henry Robertson, a partner in locomotive builders Beyer Peacock, while the contractor was Thomas Brassey in partnership with William Mackenzie and Robert Stephenson. The line is part of Transport for Wales' North Wales Metro improvement programme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gresford</span> Village in Wales

Gresford is a village and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acton, Wrexham</span> Community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales

Acton is a suburb and community in Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It spans the north-eastern part of Wrexham. The area is largely residential and at its centre, lies Acton Park, the location of the former Acton Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham & Shropshire</span> Former British passenger rail operator

Wrexham & Shropshire was an open access operator that provided passenger rail services in the United Kingdom. Services between Wrexham and London Marylebone operated from April 2008 until January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turnpike trust</span> Bodies established to run toll roads and improve transport routes

Turnpike trusts were bodies set up by individual acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal roads in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. At the peak, in the 1830s, over 1,000 trusts administered around 30,000 miles (48,000 km) of turnpike road in England and Wales, taking tolls at almost 8,000 toll-gates and side-bars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garden Village, Wrexham</span> Suburb and ward of Wrexham, Wales

Garden Village is a suburb of the city of Wrexham and an electoral division (ward) in the community of Rhosddu in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. The population of the ward at the 2011 Census was 2,035 It lies to the west of Chester Road and borders the wards of Stansty to the south and east, Gwersyllt East and South to the north west, Little Acton and Acton to the west, and a small section of Gresford to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farndon Bridge</span> Bridge between England and Wales

Farndon Bridge, also known as Holt Bridge, crosses the River Dee and the England-Wales border between the villages of Farndon, Cheshire, England and Holt, Wrexham, Wales. The bridge, which was built in the mid-14th century, is recorded in the National Heritage List for England and by Cadw as a designated Grade I listed building and scheduled monument. It is built from locally quarried red sandstone and had eight arches, of which five are over the river. On the Farndon side there is one flood arch and two flood arches are on the Holt side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1877–78 Welsh Cup</span> Football tournament season

The 1877–78 Welsh Cup was the first season of the Welsh Cup. The cup was won by Wrexham who defeated Druids 1–0 in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandy, Gwersyllt</span> Village in Wrexham County Borough, Wales

Pandy is a village near Gwersyllt and Rhosrobin, in Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough, Wales. The main entrance to Gresford Colliery stood in the village. Gresford Colliery Social Club is in the village and alongside it a memorial to the Gresford Disaster, which killed 266 men on September 22, 1934.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambrian Archaeological Association</span> Welsh historical society

The Cambrian Archaeological Association was founded in 1846 to examine, preserve and illustrate the ancient monuments and remains of the history, language, manners, customs, arts and industries of Wales and the Welsh Marches and to educate the public in such matters. The association's activities include sponsoring lectures, field visits, and study tours; as well as publishing its journal, Archaeologia Cambrensis, and monographs. It also provides grants to support research and publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1887–88 Welsh Cup</span> Football tournament season

The 1887–88 Welsh Cup was the 11th season of the Welsh Cup. The cup was won by Chirk AAA who defeated Newtown 5–0 in the final, at Owens Field, Chester Road, Wrexham.

James Davies (1845–1910) was a Welsh international footballer. He was part of the Wales national football team, playing 1 match on 23 March 1878 against Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1878 Welsh Cup final</span> Football match

The 1878 Welsh Cup Final, was the first in the competition. It was contested by Wrexham and Druids at the Acton Park, Wrexham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newbridge, Wrexham</span> Village in Wrexham County Borough, Wales

Newbridge is a village in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. The village is within the community of Cefn, to the south-east of Cefn Mawr. Newbridge is bounded to the west by the Shrewsbury–Chester railway line and the Newbridge Railway Viaduct which crosses the River Dee, which meanders to the south and east of the village. The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB since 2011 borders the village to the south, as does the Wynnstay estate, and Tŷ Mawr Country Park is on the other side of the viaduct to the west.

References

  1. ↑ Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire Into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Appendix 4. 1835. Hansard. 1835.
  2. 1 2 3 "Economic infrastructure and institutions: Roads and road transport | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Oxford Archaeology North (2013). "Heronbridge to Curzon Park Pipeline Archaeology Report" (PDF). Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Archaeologia Cambrensis (1900-1999) | Vol. 145 | 1996 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales". journals.library.wales. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Jones, Ray (2013). "Landscape Change in a Borderland Township" (PDF). Landscape History Today. 53: 15.
  6. 1 2 Williams, W. Alister. (2001). The encyclopædia of Wrexham. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN   1-872424-66-X. OCLC   49330782.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette. T. Neuman. 1841. p. 2694.
  8. 1 2 "Archeologica Cambrensis (1900-1999) | 7th Series Vol. 5 | 1925 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales". journals.library.wales. 1925. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Herson, John (23 October 2012). "Estimating Traffic: A Case Study of the Chester Sub-Region in 1827–28". The Journal of Transport History. doi:10.7227/TJTH.23.2.2. S2CID   108869990.
  10. ↑ "Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1872". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "WREXHAM DISTRICT HIGHWAY BOARD.|1877-12-22|Wrexham Guardian - Welsh Newspapers". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.