Monument record 7384/1 - Northampton to Dunchurch Turnpike

The turnpike was authorised by an act passed during the 1738-9 session of Parliament. There were eventually six toll gates on the Dunchurch to Northampton turnpike: Hillmorton, Hillmorton Wharf with side gate, Crick Wold, West Haddon, Buckby Folly, Duston (St James'-end). The act for the turnpike expired on 1 November 1870 but already in September previous, the trust was advertising the sale of its toll houses and gates.

{2} The turnpike was authorised by an act passed during the 1738-9 session of Parliament. When open, together with the Northampton to Stoke Goldington turnpike (authorised in 1709), its extension to Newport Pagnell in 1722-3, and the Newport Pagnell to Hockliffe turnpike, this gave an alternative route between the latter and Dunchurch to the existing one via Old Stratford. In 1743 the trustees of the Old Stratford and Dunchurch turnpike placed a notice in the Northampton Mercury comparing the distances between the two routes "having been carefully and exactly surveyed by Mr Thomas Eayre of Kettering" showing the route via Old Stratford was shorter.
Although the shorter distance from London to Dunchurch via Old Stratford influenced its use by coaches from the capital travelling to Birmingham and the North, the importance of Daventry as an interchange between coaches also attracted coaches away from the Dunchurch and Northampton turnpike.. . ..
The distance by the Dunchurch-Northampton Turnpike would have been considerably shorter than Dunchurch to Weedon and then along part of the Warwick and Northampton turnpike.
There were eventually six toll gates on the Dunchurch to Northampton turnpike: Hillmorton, Hillmorton Wharf with side gate, Crick Wold, West Haddon, Buckby Folly, Duston (St James'-end). By 1840 the first four above seem to have been worked together and are all included under Hillmorton.. ..[table]
The tolls taken on the Northampton to Dunchurch turnpike are substantially less than those taken on the Northampton to Welford and Northampton to market Harborough turnpikes for the same years. The reason seems to be that there was little national through traffic on the Dunchurch and Northampton whereas coaches between London and Chester, Derby, leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham were using the route between Northampton and Market Harborough or Welford. Despite the unliklihood of through traffic to London, milestones on the Dunchurch to Northampton turnpike still gave the distance to London as the prime mileage.
In 1830 the turnpike was used by regular carriers to Long Buckby. John Davies left from the "Swan and Helmet" in Northampton every Saturday, and Daniel Packer from "The Goat" every Wednesday and Saturday.
The trustees held their meetings at various places: at Fox and Hound, Harlestone in 1788; at Crown Inn, West haddon in 1849 and 1870; George Hotel, Northampton in 1849; and at Green Man, St James'-end in 1849.
In 1849 the trust gave notice of a meeting at the George Hotel, Northampton, regarding the purchase of houses and premises for road widening at the bend in St James with the Warwick and Northampton Turnpike. Ten years later the trust was concerned with reducing hills, levelling, widening and improving the road, in particular near East haddon and tenders were invited to do this.
In 1870 a letter in the Northampton mercury was encouraging people to subscribe for the removal of the Dunchurch and Northampton and the Warwick and Northampton turnpikes. The act for the turnpike expired on 1 November 1870 but already in September previous, the trust was advertising the sale of its toll houses and gates.
During its existence the turnpike did not have to face railway competition: the line between Northampton and Rugby did not open until 1881.

Dave Pinnock, 2023, Land off West Haddon Road, East Haddon, Northamptonshire: Heritage Management Plan (Report). SNN115718.

<1> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1969, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1967/68 (Industrial Archaeology), p.36 (part checked) (Article). SNN100540.

<2> Starmer G., 2002-2003, Survey of Two Former Turnpike Roads in Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104858.

<3> Oakley E., 2013, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment: Land off Guilsborough Road, West Haddon, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109623.

<4> Flitcroft M., 2013, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment: Land East of West Haddon, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109624.

<5> RPS Consultants, 2001, Daventry: DIRFT Phase 2, Environmental Statement, (unchecked) (Report). SNN102487.

Record last edited

Dec 1 2023 2:34PM