IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Zeals Rise, WARMINSTER, BA12 6PL

St Martin's Church, Zeals, Wiltshire. Zeals is noteworthy for being one of the very rare places in the UK beginning with the letter Z.

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

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

A standard lamp box serving the Westfield Estate, mounted on a metal pole but standing alongside a wooden post which may well once have had the box strapped to it. The spire of the Image is in the background.

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.

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

The Orange Way is a long distance path of 341 miles following the route of William of Orange from his landing at Brixham to St James's Palace in London. I started the walk in October 2011 and have passed through Torbay, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. I now embark on the continuation through Wiltshire. Here the Orange Way approaches Zeals up Tulse Hill.

The Ordnance Survey bench mark is to be found on the south west of the church tower. For a wider view of the church Image and for further information on the bench mark http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm36098