Two roads to HolywellPeter Cooper2019-04-09T14:59:22+01:00
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It is noticeable on some of the old maps, e.g. Cary’s 1801 map of Huntingdonshire, that two roads (or tracks) between Needingworth and Holywell are marked.
Click image(s) to see a larger version |
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The more easterly road of the pair is still with us as Church Street and then Mill Way. On this Google satellite view I can sometimes convince myself that I can see evidence for the second (westerly road). |
1746
The oldest map that shows the two roads is Cosmo Wallace’s Map of Holywell-cum-Needingworth 1764. This is also the most believable as it is large scale, and presumably prepared for the inclosure. (I must get some better reproductions of it – these were done in my early days of research.) It is titled thus:
A Plan
comprehending
Part of the Lands
belonging to
His Grace George Montagu
Duke and Earl of
Manchester
Also having the Extent and exact
Situation as they are Interipened among
other PROPRIETORS GROUNDS
lying in the Parish of Holywell cum
Needingworth and in the County of
Huntingdon
Surveyed by Cosmo Wallace
1764
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In this detail you can see Needingworth. The top road going off the High Street right is Silver Lane, the next down is Overcote Lane, then Church Street and Hawkes Lane. The leftmost road going off the High Street is the now disappeared road going down to Holywell. |
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In this detail you can see the west end of Holywell (the church is shown at the bottom right, and the mill at the top right).
The easterly road is marked as Mill Road and the westerly road as Church Road. This does make more sense than the current naming, as the westerly road is going almost directly to the Church. |
Thoughts
Have you seen any evidence on the ground of this road?
Have you any suggestions as to why there were the two roads, and one disappeared?
How to make a comment
The first Turnpike Act was passed in 1663. The Duke of Manchester introduced turnpikes to St Ives soon after 1719. The second road appears in Cosmo’s 1746 map and Cary shows it is still there in 1801 . The road through Needingworth (Stocks Bridge, St Ives to Hermitage Bridge, Earith) was managed by the Somersham Turnpike Trust who carried out substantial repairs in 1820. The last tolls were charged in 1918, and by 1945 aerial photos show only half the road remained.
Tolls were only applicable to farmers and tradespeople, the second road led directly from Pound Hill to Manor Farm, avoiding Needingworth village completely, my guess is that the tenants at Manor farm could avoid tolls if they did not enter Needingworth and the second road lasted only as long as the tolls did.