Turnpike Acts | Supplement to the Acts of Parliament for Making and Repairing the Turnpike and Other High Roads within The County of Edinburgh, with an Index 1809 (Bound with) Additional Index and Abstract Relative to the Act 49 Geo. III. Cap. 37 (Bound with) Standing Orders of the House of Commons Relating to Bills for Turnpike Roads 1774 (Bound with) An Act for Regulating Turnpike Roads in that Part of Great Britain Called Scotland 4th July 1823

Turnpike Acts

Published by Printed by Sir D. Hunter Blair and J. Bruce, Edinburgh . 1809., 1809

About this Item

Hard back binding in contemporary half brown calf covers, worn gilt title lettering to the spine 'Turnpike Acts', marble paper covered sides. 8vo. 8½'' x 5½''. 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 of turnpike road in England and Wales, taking tolls at almost 8,000 toll-gates and side-bars. Turnpikes declined with the coming of the railways and then the Local Government Act 1888 gave responsibility for maintaining main roads to county councils and county borough councils. The term "turnpike" originates from the similarity of the gate used to control access to the road, to the barriers once used to defend against attack by cavalry. The turnpike consisted of a row of pikes or bars, each sharpened at one end, and attached to horizontal members which were secured at one end to an upright pole or axle, which could be rotated to open or close the gate. Contains (iv), 233-279; 1-(liii)-1; 5; 80 pp. General age toning to the text block edges, rubbing to the cover corners and spine ends, dust mark soiling to the rear paste down and end paper. Member of the P.B.F.A. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS. Seller Inventory # 97538

Bibliographic Details

Title: Turnpike Acts | Supplement to the Acts of ...

Publisher: Printed by Sir D. Hunter Blair and J. Bruce, Edinburgh . 1809.

Publication Date: 1809

Binding: Hardcover