Bridgnorth to Newport road

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bristolloggerheads
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I understand that the A442 road north from Bridgnorth was a "new" turnpike road in the C18th. Did this replace a medieval route north to Newport, Eccleshall etc or was this an entirely new route?

Peter 

Martyn Freeth
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Hello Peter.

Looking at the route of A442 on the OS maps, it does seem fairly clear that there are ancient settlements along or close to the modern road. Sutton Maddock, Stockton and Norton, for example. Closer towards Bridgnorth is the solitary Ewdness, just off and to the west of the road. And that was certainly a manor house well before 1600. The map shows no vestige of any track that might have otherwise served it. In the absence of an earlier route on the line of the A442 it would have been landlocked.

I have no knowledge of turnpike records, but presumably the works were authorised by Act of Parliament; and such private Acts are in the House of Lords records.

You might get some good info from the Apley Park collection at Shropshire Archives. (The Whitmore family as Gwynne mentions in the "Page" thread below). Unfortunately this is one catalogue that I do not have downloaded; and archives.shropshire.gov.uk is currently inaccessible, no doubt for main server maintenance.

Michael J Hulme
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Hello Peter

Before you rush off to London to search in the House of Lords you might like to look at the Parliamentary Archives Catalogue (Portcullis)

Also check with Shropshire Archives because I have a feeling they have some Turnpike information.

You might also like to look at the Shropshire Turnpikes web site.

While on this site try exploring their maps - they have some smashing stuff.

Mike

 

bristolloggerheads
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Thanks both for the suggestions. I am trying to ascertain whether the considerable trade (in both directions) from Bridgnorth to the Potteries via Newport and Eccleshall before this road was turnpiked was on a medieval predecessor to this road of whether the route via Much Wenlock and Buildwas Bridge was more likely.