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Post date: Mar 29, 2018 7:30:55 PM
In Kent archives (T2/3) is an account book relating to the Tonbridge to Maidstone Turnpike (14 miles in length). It shows all receipts and payments for the period from the turnpike's inception in 1765 until 1801. The beneficiary of all payments is always shown but the underlying nature of the expenditure is unfortunately frequently not given. Land acquisitions seem to be always identified and capital payments (principal and interest) seem to be clearly identified. The financial year seems to end at a rather flexible date between the end of June and October.
The following (all amounts are rounded to the nearest pound) is an analysis under certain headings:
Capital: it would appear that the initial subscription in 1765 totalling £1,100 was syndicated through Mr. Lawrence Foster. The subscriptions were charged on the security of future toll receipts. Interest was at a rate of 4% p.a. making an annual charge of £44. Rev. Whitaker subscribed £764 in 1766 but in June 1767 he was repaid £979 (including interest and a further capital subscription he made in 1766). A further £500 was received from 9 individual subscribers in 1766 and a further £2,400 from 8 individual subscribers in 1767, The total capital was therefore approximately £4,700 on which interest would represent an annual charge of £188. Interest could not always be paid and at the end of 1769/70 cash in hand was only £20. In 1773/74 interest due was capitalised.
Toll Receipts: apparently the original Act was not clear as to whether the toll had to be paid at each gate if travelling the whole length of the road so this needed a further act to clarify. Regular users could individually negotiate an arrangement (not included in these amounts). People evaded the tolls by travelling a variety of detours. Unfortunately it is not evident what the toll rate for a person, vehicle or animal was. Toll collectors were paid a salary and it is probable that the toll receipts quoted below are net of that salary. Initially there were only three toll gates but later another two were added.
Mill Lane, Tonbridge
Mereworth
Maidstone Bridge
Total
1776/77
1777/78
1778/79
779/80
1780/81
1781/82
1782/83
1783/84
1784/85
1785/86
1786/87
£
124
77
140
£
120
77
115
£
146
126
145
£
123
93
136
£
117
80
132
£
109
81
103
£
109
82
95
£
106
88
112
£
121
87
113
£
117
87
124
£
106
91
106
The long term clerk and treasurer, Swayne, died in 1800 and the figures for 1800/01 are incomplete and so not quoted above.
Parish compositions: as the maintenance of roads was otherwise the responsibility of the parish, the Turnpike Trust could come to a "composition" (renewed or amended annually) with the parish to pay the turnpike for the costs they now avoided (generally depending on length of turnpike in parish). In 1765 these totalled £52 as follows: Tonbridge £3; Hadlow £11; East Peckham £6; West Peckham £1; Mereworth £10; Wateringbury £6 (Wateringbury surveyor William Boaglo); Teston £3; Barming £5; Maidstone £6; extra-parochial district of Barn Jet £1.
Professional fees: Payments to Mr. Russell for his work in getting Act of Parliament passed in 1765 and subsequently amended in 1766 were a major cost (£205 and £196 ). Thomas Swayne appointed clerk and treasurer and Thomas Collis appointed surveyor for one year for 2 days a week for 75 guineas
Land acquisitions: land acquisitions seem modest relating to the need to widen the existing road in place. The only one in Wateringbury relates to £4-7s.-6d. paid to Sir Thomas Style
Infrastructure: Hadlow Bown bridge is the only apparent major item of infrastructure expenditure although others could be concealed in invoices without full explanation.
Improvement and maintenance: was the purpose of the turnpike. In the year 1783 the payments for repairs and maintenance are set out in more detail as summarised below:
Oversight: in 1783 there is evidence that His Majesty's Commissioners visited but to what end is not clear.
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