Chester and Wrexham Turnpike

Former turnpike road in Britain

The last turnpike road between Chester and Wrexham in the United Kingdom was built in 1752 and follows the same route as the A483 road leaving Chester and thereafter the B5445 towards Wrexham.

## History

[edit]

A toll road between Chester and Wrexham was in place before 1315 because King Edward III decreed that a toll road that led to Wrexham through the Lache was part of the boundary of the City of Chester.[1]

The last turnpike road between Chester and Wrexham was constructed in 1756, when the Shrewsbury and Wrexham Turnpike Trust extended its road to Chester having been given authority under the Shrewsbury and Wrexham Road Act 1751 (25 Geo. 2. c. 22).[2] The turnpike road leaves Chester following the same route as the contemporary A483,[3] and then along the B5445 towards Wrexham.[4] The road crossed the River Alyn near to the Rossett watermill,[5] then up the hill to the village of Marford.[4] It entered Wrexham next to the Acton Smithy, Acton where there was a toll booth.[6] At that location, it intersected with the Acton to Plas Coch, Broughton turnpike road, which was directly opposite to the Acton Smithy.[7] It then passed by a further toll booth which is now known as the junction between Chester Road and Box Lane just prior to entering the town centre .[6]

## Management

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In 1752, the Shrewsbury to Wrexham Turnpike Trust was formed to create and manage a toll road between the two towns.[8] It was the first turnpike trust to become involved in the management of roads in Wales.[8] In 1756, the trust extended its road from Wrexham to Chester. In 1828, the Chester and Wrexham Turnpike Trust was established to takeover the management of the Shrewsbury to Chester turnpike road on the section between Wrexham and Chester.[2]

## Traffic

[edit]

The Chester to Wrexham turnpike was the second busiest road that led out of Chester.[9] It was because it was less effected by canal construction than other roads because of the gradient of the Gresford Bank.[9] It gave the transporters on the route a monopoly on carrying goods between the two towns.[9] In 1827 to 1828 it was estimated the road was used by 39,312 scheduled carriages, 11,395 private carriages, and 6,267 people on foot or horseback.[9] Additionally, scheduled freight carriages transported 17,160 tonnes of goods and 13,150 tonnes was carried privately.[9]

## Abolition

[edit]

The Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1872 specified that the legislation to maintain the Chester to Wrexham turnpike road would expire no later than 1 November 1877.[10] Therefore, it was disturnpiked in 1877.[2] In December 1877, when the Wrexham District Highway Board had taken over responsibility for the road it mentioned it was in a poor condition and required much work to rectify it.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire Into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Appendix 4. 1835. Hansard. 1835.
2. ^ a b c "Economic infrastructure and institutions: Roads and road transport | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
3. ^ Oxford Archaeology North (2013). "Heronbridge to Curzon Park Pipeline Archaeology Report" (PDF). Retrieved 11 April 2020.
4. ^ a b "Archaeologia Cambrensis (1900-1999) | Vol. 145 | 1996 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales". journals.library.wales. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
5. ^ Jones, Ray (2013). "Landscape Change in a Borderland Township" (PDF). Landscape History Today. 53: 15.
6. ^ a b Williams, W. Alister. (2001). The encyclopædia of Wrexham. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-66-X. OCLC 49330782.
7. ^ The London Gazette. T. Neuman. 1841. p. 2694.
8. ^ a b "Archeologica Cambrensis (1900-1999) | 7th Series Vol. 5 | 1925 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales". journals.library.wales. 1925. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
9. ^ a b c d e Herson, John (23 October 2012). "Estimating Traffic: A Case Study of the Chester Sub-Region in 1827–28". The Journal of Transport History. doi:10.7227/TJTH.23.2.2. S2CID 108869990.
10. ^ "Annual Turnpike Acts Continuance Act 1872". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
11. ^ "WREXHAM DISTRICT HIGHWAY BOARD.|1877-12-22|Wrexham Guardian - Welsh Newspapers". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 11 April 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Wrexham County Borough

* Wrexham County Borough Council

Principal settlements|

* Chirk
* Wrexham (Built-up area)

Communities|

* Abenbury
* Acton
* Bangor-on-Dee
* Bronington
* Broughton
* Brymbo
* Caia Park
* Cefn
* Ceiriog Ucha
* Chirk
* Coedpoeth
* Erbistock
* Esclusham
* Glyntraian
* Gresford
* Gwersyllt
* Hanmer
* Holt
* Isycoed
* Llangollen Rural
* Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog
* Llay
* Maelor South
* Marchwiel
* Minera
* Offa
* Overton
* Pen-y-cae
* Rhosddu
* Rhosllanerchrugog
* Rossett
* Ruabon
* Sesswick
* Willington Worthenbury

Other villages and areas|

* Aberoer
* Acrefair
* Arowry
* Bersham
* Bettisfield
* Borras
* Borras Park
* Bowling Bank
* Bradley
* Bryn Offa
* Brynteg
* Burton
* Bwlchgwyn
* Caego
* Cefn Mawr
* Ceiriog Valley
* Chapel Street
* Charles Street
* Chester Street
* Church Street
* College Street
* Cross Lanes
* Fairy Road
* Froncysyllte
* Garden Village
* Grosvenor Road
* Grove Road
* Glyn Ceiriog
* Gwynfryn
* Halghton
* Hightown
* Horseman's Green
* Island Green
* Johnstown
* Knolton
* Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog
* Llan-y-pwll
* Llwyneinion
* Llwynmawr
* Maelor
* Maelor Saesneg
* Marford
* Moss
* Newbridge
* New Brighton
* New Broughton
* Pandy (Ceiriog)
* Pandy (Gwersyllt)
* Pant
* Penley
* Pentre Broughton
* Pentre Bychan
* Pentre Maelor
* Plas Coch
* Plas Madoc
* Ponciau
* Pontfadog
* Queen's Square
* Rhosnesni
* Rhosrobin
* Rhostyllen
* Rhosymedre
* Ridleywood
* Salisbury Park/Road
* Southsea
* Stansty
* Summerhill
* Sydallt
* Tanyfron
* Temple Row
* Town Hill
* Tregeiriog
* Trevor
* Tybroughton
* Wrexham Industrial Estate
* Wrexham City Centre
* Whitewell

Universities and colleges|

* Coleg Cambria (Yale College)
* Wrexham University
* School of Healthcare Sciences, Bangor University

Buildings and structures|

* 2 Grosvenor Road
* Abbotsfield
* All Saints' Church, Gresford
* Bangor-on-Dee Bridge
* Bangor-on-Dee racecourse
* Bersham Ironworks
* Bridge End Inn
* Brynkinalt Hall
* Butchers' Market
* Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows
* Cefn Viaduct
* Central Arcade
* Chirk Aqueduct
* Chirk Viaduct
* Chirk War Memorial
* County Buildings
* Croesnewydd Hall
* Eagles Meadow
* Elephant and Castle
* Erddig
* Feathers Hotel
* The Gelli
* Halghton Hall
* Hightown Barracks
* HM Prison Berwyn
* Horse and Jockey
* Holt Bridge
* General Market
* Gresford Methodist Church
* Grosvenor Lodge
* Grove Park School
* Iscoyd Park
* Marchwiel Hall
* Nags Head (Wrexham)
* Offa's Dyke (part)
* Old Carnegie Library
* Old Wrexham Infirmary
* Overton Arcade
* Pant-yr-Ochain
* Pen-y-Lan Hall
* Pont Cysyllte
* Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
* Poyser Street drill hall
* Rossett Presbyterian Chapel
* Racecourse Ground
* Rossett Hall
* Saith Seren
* Soames Brewery Chimney
* St David's Welsh Church
* St Deiniol's Church
* St Giles' Church
* St Mary's Church (Chirk)
* St Mary's Church (Ruabon)
* The Midland
* Talbot Hotel
* Trevalyn Hall
* Trinity Presbyterian Church
* Tudor Court
* Turf Hotel
* Tŷ Pawb
* Wat's Dyke (part)
* Waking the Dragon (proposed)
* War Memorial Hospital
* Waterworld
* Wrexham bus station
* Wrexham Cemetery
* Wrexham Lager Brewery
* Wrexham Library
* Wrexham Guildhall
* Wrexham Maelor Hospital
* Wrexham Police Station (1973–2020)
* Wynn Hall
* Wynnstay
* Wynnstay Arms (Ruabon)
* Wynnstay Arms (Wrexham)
* Xplore!

| Castles|

* Chirk Castle
* Holt Castle
* The Rofft (former)

|

Geography|

* Berwyn range
* Ceiriog Valley
* Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB
* Clywedog Trail
* Craig Berwyn
* Esclusham Mountain
* Fenn's Moss
* Nant-y-Ffrith
* Ruabon Moors

| Rivers|

* Alyn
* Cegidog
* Ceiriog
* Clywedog
* Dee
* Eitha
* Gwenfro
* Nant-y-Ffrith
* Wych Brook

|

Reservoirs and lakes|

* Acton Park Lake
* Cae Llwyd Reservoir
* Chirk Castle Lake
* Fenn's Bank Mere
* Gresford Flash
* Hanmer Mere
* Llyn Bedydd
* Monk's Pool
* Pant-yr-ochain Lake
* Penycae Top Reservoir
* Ty Mawr Reservoir
* Wynnstay Park Lake

Transport|

* Wrexham bus station
* A5 road
* A483 road
* A525 road
* A528 road
* A541 road
* B5101 road
* Chester and Wrexham Turnpike (former)
* Llangollen Canal
* Trevor Basin
* Wrexham & Shropshire (former)
* North Wales Metro (part)

| Railway lines|

* Borderlands line
* Shrewsbury to Chester line

|

Former lines|

* Glyn Valley Tramway (re-opening proposed)
* Moss Valley Branch
* Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway
* Wrexham and Minera Railway
* Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway
* Croes Newydd (former)
* Former stations

Railway stations|

* Chirk railway station
* Gwersyllt railway station
* Ruabon railway station
* Wrexham Central railway station
* Wrexham General railway station

Proposed stations
Wrexham North railway station
Wrexham South railway station

Media and events|

* Calon FM
* Capital North West and North Wales
* Heart North Wales
* Capital Cymru (some broadcasts)
* Smooth Wales (some broadcasts)
* MuxCo (radio operator)
* Wrexham-Rhos transmitting station
* Marcher Radio Group (former)
* BBC Cymru Wales (local studios)
* The Leader newspaper
* Wales Comic Con (2008–2019; 2022)
* Focus Wales
* Eisteddfoddau
* 1876
* 1888
* 1912
* 1933
* 1945
* 1961
* 1977
* 2011
* 2025

Economy|

* Jones' Village Bakery
* Moneypenny
* Net World Sports
* Wrexham Lager

Topics|

* Parliamentary constituencies
* Schools
* City parks and open spaces
* Council elections
* electoral wards
* SSSIs
* Country houses
* Churches
* Listed buildings
* Grade I
* Grade II*
* Grade II
* Scheduled monuments
* Listed parks and gardens
* History
* Former RAF Wrexham
* Lord Lieutenants
* High Sheriffs
* Mayor
* Museums
* Museum
* Archives
* National Football Museum
* Wrexham Library
* Wrexham Guildhall
* Public art
* Wrexham Art School
* Wrexham A.F.C.
* Women
* Wrexham RFC

* Preserved county of Clwyd
* Historic counties of Denbighshire and Flintshire

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