Gateshead, Gateshead to Hexham Road

HER Number:
3628

District:
Gateshead

Site Name:
Gateshead, Gateshead to Hexham Road

Place:
Gateshead

Map Sheet:
NZ16SW NZ26SE

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Road

Site Type: Specific:
Toll Road

General Period:
Post Medieval

Specific Period:
C18

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
In 1663 an Act of Parliament was passed to permit parishes responsible for roads wthat passed through them to collect money from travellers to be spent on the upkeep of the roads. The roads were called Turnpikes owing to the fact that a pole or pike, resting on a central post was put across the road and swung round when the toll was paid to allow the traffic through. The Gateshead - Hexham Turnpike, constructed in 1776/7, came from Gateshead via the bridge at Swalwell, to the brickworks at Blaydon Burn, from where it ran up Summerhill Bank to Path Head and then onto Ryton. Typical tolls would be 1/2d for pedestrians, 2s for vehicles drawn by six horses, 9d for vehicles drawn by two horses, and 3d per score for every drove of cows, hogs, goats or sheep. People travelling to church on Sundays were exempt from charges, also when travelling to funerals or visiting the sick. There were nine toll bars on the Gateshead - Hexham Turnpike, including one at Crawcrook (HER ref. 3300). The road left the county at Stanleyburn Bridge (HER ref. 3627).

Easting:
2569

Northing:
6310

Grid Reference:
NZ25696310

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 3628 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 1 T. Yellowley, 1986, Stella and Blaydon Burn