IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
New Road, WARMINSTER, BA12 6NA

Metal plate attached to stone post by the UC road, in parish of ZEALS (SALISBURY District), New Road, 200m West of junction with Bricknells Lane, on grass bank, on West side of road. Wincanton iron plate, erected by the Wincanton turnpike trust in the 18th century. Inscription reads:- Wincanton 5 Hindon 9 Grade II listed. List Entry Number: 1283236 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1283236 Milestone Society National ID: WI_WCHD05.

The raised lettering reads Wincanton / 5 / Hindon / 9. For a wider view of the stone Image Milestones did not come into general use until the Turnpike Act of 1766 made them compulsory on turnpike roads, these roads were built by private enterprise under licence from the Government and maintained by tolls on those who used them. Before this Act milestones were put up occasionally, often as charitable acts and commemorations. Many Turnpike Act stones still exist. They are usually 2-3 ft high, with the initial letter or abbreviation of the nearest market town show on two faces, and the distance from it.

Late 18th century limestone pillar with cast iron plate. The road was turnpiked 1754-56. Turnpikes were administered by turnpike trusts, which were authorised by private act of parliament. The trusts laid down a network of soundly constructed roads throughout the country, replacing parochial maintenance system on many highways and substantially improving communications. The first English turnpike roads were authorised by an act of 1663. By the 1800s there were about 8000 toll-gates and 22,000 miles of highway. The trusts engineers, notably John Macadam, constructed many new roads, which by the 1800s were being utilized by an efficient stagecoach system. However, railway expansion after 1830 led to the rapid decline of stagecoaches and turnpike revenue. Turnpike roads were built by private enterprise under licence from the Government and maintained by tolls on those who used them.

A milestone in Zeals. See Image] for a wider view on New Road.

A quiet road now that the Bourton Bypass is in full flow. See Image] for a closer look.

The white barriers seem somewhat superfluous if they are installed to stop wheeled traffic.

This building definitely has an old-post-office look about it and I seem to vaguely remember, in around 1992, that there was a door to the right of the window; at that time the post office was farther along to the north. Today, the post office is within Zeals Garage, a short walk from here on the opposite side of the main road.

This Elizabeth II-reign postbox looks to have a very recent fresh coat of paint and is set into the wall of Image It is casting a face-like shadow on the wall to the left and it is emptied at noon on weekdays, two hours earlier on Saturdays.

An attractive pair of cottages just into Fantley Lane off the main road.