Samuel Wise (proprietor of the King’s Arms, which was then situated on ‘La Grene’) to a direction post at Milborne Port. Also included in the Act was the road that started from the Yeovil Road, probably the Bradford Road, and then continued to Twinway Lane and Horsecastles Lane and then to West Bridge, on up Watery Lane to Longburton, Holnest straight, Farthing Gate, and finally to Revels Inn. Here it met the older Sherborne to Dorchester road by way of Giant’s Head Inn. Roads had undergone various changes in the period prior to the introduction of the turnpike, and these were due as much to the changing needs of road travellers, as to more local changes. For example, it seems likely that the Watery Lane (Westhill out of Sherborne) had become more important than the older route over Gainsborough Hill. It is also possible that the improvements and landscaping of the Castle Gardens by Capability Brown during the second half of the 18th century prompted the closure of the old Pinford Road. In order that the tolls might be collected, it was necessary to halt the traffic by barriers placed across the road at suitable intervals, and these normally took the form of gates that could easily be opened. The gates or barriers were usually flanked by a Toll House in which the gate-keeper lived, and on the wall of the Toll House was displayed a board setting out the charges and other regulations. When you next drive past the old Toll House, Farthing Gate, at Holnest, slow down, look up and there between the windows you will see the display board. Farthing Gate Toll House gets its name from the farthings charged for each pig, sheep or lamb travelling through the gate. The better the roads became, the more they were used and the more they cost, but it was all too short-lived and the decision to end the turnpike was made in the 1880s. By 1888 all main turnpiked roads became the responsibility of the new county councils. In their heyday, turnpiked roads must have been one of the most familiar features of everyday life, yet today the system has left practically no traces, except the routes of many of our main roads, and the occasional Toll House. Next month, I will continue telling you about the many Toll Houses that were to be found here in Sherborne. sherbornewalks.co.uk
Free home visits specialist Neil Grenyer will be in the sherborne area on Thursday 29th August to value your antiques
Walter e. Greengrass (1896-1970) seAsiDe morNiNG. Colour Linocut, 1935 BOUGHT FOR £14,640
to make an appointment please contact: ( 01460 73041 neil.grenyer@lawrences.co.uk Complete house Contents & Attic Clearances Arranged Professional Probate valuations
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