GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

Turnpike Acts

(Book #ID 97538)

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

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.

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Taylor, David and Susan Balloch [Edited by]

(Book #ID 76191)

Published by The Policy Press, University of Bristol, Bristol First Edition 2005. Bristol 2005.

First edition in publisher's original illustrated card wrap covers [softback]. 8vo. 9'' x 6¼''. Contains 261 printed pages of text. Minimal rubs to the corners and in very near Fine condition, no dust wrapper as published. Member of the P.B.F.A. ISBN 1861346050

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