The Maesbury Turnpike

Turnpikes (toll roads) were introduced in the 17th century as a way of paying for road improvements, most were admistered by privately owned Turnpike Trusts. By 1750 the turnpikes reached Shrewsbury, then there was a huge expansion between 1750-1770, including those to Oswestry in the map below.

This map is from 'Carey's Traveller's Companion', published 1789, showing all the turnpike roads in Britain and Ireland. Most of the other 'roads' were little more than muddy tracks, including those through Maesbury at this time. There were certainly tracks from Oswestry to Maesbury, and it's likely that the track on higher ground between Knockin and West Felton, through Woolston, was a fairly old ridgeway. The area between Maesbury and Woolston was still a large marsh, though there does appear to have been a track across it by Roque's 1752 map of Shropshire.

Then the canal arrived in 1795 (or 1796 depending on the source). The map below was clearly adapted from the very innacurate 1752 map, with the canal and turnpikes added:

The above map dates from betweem 1800-1850, now showing a new turnpike through Maesbury to Knockin, and another added from Llynclys to Knockin (shown as Knuckin which is how locals still pronounce it). The obvious difference being the construction of the canal, the new roads linking to Maesbury Wharf and Crickheath Wharf. (Maesbury appears to be spelled 'Measbury', which was also used in the 1851 Census).

The above map is from 1839, clearly showing the various 'Chain Fields' alongside Chain Lane and Morton Lane. In the 1901 Census the dwellings around the cross-roads are referred to as 'The Chain'.

F. A. Mason* suggests that there was a chain gate across the road, and that Oakfield Cottage was originally the Toll House. However there is no indication of a building in that southern corner in 1839 (the map may not be entirely accurate but it does seem to show all the other known buildings). There is a house shown on the site of what is now Ashfield Farm House - perhaps that was the first Toll House?

The 1851 Census for Maesbury Township lists a dwelling called 'Brook Gate', next in the list after Brook House, occupied by Elizabeth Bowen, a 60 year old widow giving her occupation as 'Toll collector'.

Most Turnpikes became free roads during the 19th century, as the railways took much of the traffic. At present we do not have a date for the removal of the Maesbury Chain. However the map below is from 1890 and still shows 'Maesbury T.P.' (Turnpike) at the cross-roads (it could have been out of date by then). Oakfield Cottage is now there, and what looks like a building in the north corner which has since gone.

The 'National School' was known locally as the 'Chain School'. The Church, between Ashfield and the School, was built in 1906, so not on this map.

*A Little Bit of Shropshire: The Village of Maesbury, 1800-1930 by F. A. Mason, published by Gee & Son, Denbigh, November 2000, ISBN 07074 0350 2.