Turnpike Roads in Calderdale
In early times the roads and tracks around
Calderdale were rough indeed. There were the early cattle trails
leading from the north and the packhorse tracks which were used
by clothiers bringing their cloth pieces into Halifax for sale.
These tracks had been in existence from the Middle Ages and the
most used was the Magna Via, a rough track, partly metalled,
which wound round the brow of Beacon Hill and dropped steeply
into Halifax by way of the Parish Church. This was the old route
from Wakefield which had been used from time immemorial. Some
of the old roads into Calderdale followed the original routes
chosen by the Romans in the 4th and 5th centuries.
By the late 18th century the new turnpike
roads were coming into existence, roads which were wider and
better made than the earlier tracks and made communication with
other towns easier. There were still problems, however, the new
roads were often badly affected by adverse weather conditions
and could become so muddy as to be impassable at times. Moreover,
the increased cost of maintenance had to be borne by the local
authority.
Toll bars were set up with a man to attend
to the gate at all hours of the day or night, and a list of toll
charges was displayed - a cost which added to the traveller's
expense and to the tradesman's problems.
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