Highway Surveyors of Spaxton 1699 - 1893

Taken from The History of the Church and Village of Spaxton. Chapter 19 – The Spaxton Highway. by M. J. Odlum. Devon (1974).

In 1972 we are accustomed to smooth roads of tar-macadam wherever a motorcar can go, and the sight of a pot-hole is almost enough to make the average driver write an angry letter to his County Council as soon as he gets home, We take our roads for granted, and we almost take if for granted that the 'authorities' can and will make a motorway wherever they wish by virtue of their powers of compulsory purchase of land. We pay very heavy taxes for our excellent roads, and so it is only natural that we should complain if they are not kept in excellent order and if there are not enough motorways to enable us to drive at high speed from one corner of the kingdom to another, but such a state of affairs was unbelievable a hundred years ago.

For centuries the repair of the roads was the responsibility of those who owned the land either side, it being assumed that the owners of land were the ones most likely to use the roads, and the responsibility for seeing that the land-owners kept the roads in good repair lay on the village constable, each manorial area, or group of manors, having its own constable. In 1555, during the reign of Mary and Philip, a Highways Act was passed which laid down the responsibility for maintaining the roads on the local parish, and everyone was liable for a certain amount of work, the larger landowners providing carts, horses and labourers, the cottagers providing a single labourer, and all being required to provide free work on the roads for about six days in each year. The Constable was relieved of his responsibility and the parishioners were required to elect a Surveyor of the Highways, or Waywarden as he later came to be known. The local Justices of the Peace eventually took over the appointment of the Surveyor, the local parish merely supplying a list of names, and probably the system worked a little better after this for there was less likelihood of the Surveyor repairing his own roads and those of his friends and neglecting others – of which devious practice there is an excellent example in the Spaxton records.

It is undoubtedly a great mistake to insist that this office should be unpaid, and as a result it was very difficult to find people who were willing to be nominated, so most parishes sensibly worked out a system whereby everybody took their turn and knew that when they had done their year in office then it would not come round again for quite a long period. The duties of the Highway Surveyor were to inspect the roads at least three or four times a year, arrange for the days when voluntary labour was to be done, supervise the paid labour, levy the Highway Rate, collect the money from those who preferred to pay rather than supply labour, and report those who refused to do either. The main Highways were very largely kept in repair by a system of Turnpike Trusts, toll-gates being erected at various intervals along the roads to collect money for the repair of the road from those who used it. Many of the old Turnpike cottages still exist, and they can be recognised by the two little windows which face up and down the road, being sited right by the edge of the road.

Following the reform of the local government in 1832, the nomination of the Waywarden or Surveyor was made by the local Vestry and not by the Magistrates, and by the end of the 19^th century the responsibility for roads had passed entirely out of the hands of the local parishes, though Spaxton appears to have been among the last to relinquish this responsibility, appointing its own Waywarden as late as 1893.

The material for this chapter has survived in various forms. In John Thomas's Book there is a list of of the Highway Surveyors from 1699 to 1755 – including Turn-pike men – then there is a gap from 1755 to 1772 and the list continues from 1773 to 1819. Then there is a Highways Account Book that covers the period 1775 to 1819, and in the Vestry Minute Book a series of entries concerning the Highways from 1848 to 1893. In addition there are some very detailed bills for the period 1807 – 1812 rendered by lawyers in respect of work done by them on behalf of the parish in respect of Highway neglect and disputes. As before, the records more or less speak for themselves, and I have included the legal bills in full because I find them so interesting.

Finally, a word of explanation about the six days annual labour required of each estate – it was called Voluntary, Statue of Free labour, but it was in fact unpaid labour required by law, and Statute is the best description.

The Highways Surveyors

1699 - 1893

1699. Robert Kidner, John Davis of Renmore, John Barell and George Lewis.

1700. John Thorne of Holwell, Jasper Poarter, Henry Ruscombe.

1701. Nick Durborow, Andrew Parsons and John Davis of Renmore.

1702.

1703. Richard Poarter, Gawin Teal, Will Durborow.

1708. Gawin Teal, Nick: Durborow, Tho: Biffen, Humphry Culverwill.

1709. Henry Ruscombe, Richard Thorne, Joseph Middleton, George Trutch.

1710. Robert Everad Esq. Ben: Barel, John Willis, Robert Bellamy.

1711. John Thorne of Holwell, Will Eliott, Rich: Addams, Henry Ruscombe.

1714. Robert Curry, Edwd Coal, Henry Ruscombe.

1715. Christopher Carlile, Franc: Lewis, Robert White, Robert Harney for Renmore.

1717. Richard Porter, John Trowbridg, Henry Ruscombe, John Thomas.

1718. Nick Burbrown, Rich: Addams, Will Lokier, Henry Ruscombe.

1719. John Thorne of Holwell, John Starkey, Luke Culverwill.

1720. John Jenkins, Benjamin Barel, John Willice, William Powel.

1721. Thomas Biffen, John Middleton, Henry Ruscombe, Will Eliott.

1722. John Farthing, John Harper, Richard Starkey, Thomas Love.

1723. Richard Thorne, Joseph Coale, Amos Andrews, Will Pool.

1724. Robert Everard Esq, John Middleton, Henry Poake, Will Barell.

1725. Richard Poarter, John Colford, Robert Curry, Henry Ruscombe.

1726. George Griffey, Will Powell, Nick Durbrown, Edw: West.

1727. Robert Everard Esq, Will Locker, Richard Hooke, David Tutten.

1728. Richard Kidner, Henry Ruscombe, Thomas Reason, John Thomas.

1729. Richard Kidner, Henry Ruscombe, Ben: Dymond, Robert Hook.

1730. John Grove, Benjamin Dymond, Will Barell, Richard Porter.

1731. Robert Everard Eaq, Michaell Jenkins, Samuell Barell, Will Exton.

1732. Robert Everard Esq, Michaell Jenkinds, Samuell Barell, Will Exton.

1733. John Trutch, Nathaniel Grady, Symon Sealey, Robert Williams.

1734. Henry Ruscombe, Will Lockier, Thomas Palmer, Francis Dyment.

1735. John Trutch, John Trowbridg, John Middleton, John Thorne.

1736. Robert Everard Esq, Mr Will: York Rector, John Thomas, John Harper.

1737. Edmond Blake, Benjamin Barell, John Coleford, James Row.

1738. Edmond Blake, Benjamin Barell, John Coleford, James Row.

1740. Symon Sealey, Roger Thorne, Thomas Foxwell, John Trutch.

1741. William Barell, Richard Starkey, Thomas Symons, Edward Score.

1742. Nick Durbrow, Richard Porter, Francis Foxwell, Robert Everard Esq.

1743. Thomas Palmer, John White, Peter Pullen, John Trutch.

1744. John Harper, Benjamin Dymond, Richard Starkey.

1745. Benjamin Barrell, Richard How, Will Lockier, Edward Score.

1746. Symon Sealey, George Kidner, Thomas Symons at Radlet.

1747. Mr Graunt, Samuel Barel, John Foxwell, Edward Score.

1748. Richard How, Richard Starkey, Richard Hook, James Row.

1749. Will Barrell, Edward West, John Davis, Thomas Grove.

1750. John Harper, James Belamey, John Shalland, Richard Scoar.

1751. Mr Jenkins, John White, John Shorland, Richard Scoar.

1752. Mr Jenkins, John Barrell, John Shorland, James Row.

1753. William Barill, Richard Porter, Edward Williams, Richard Score.

1754. William Barill, Richard Porter, Edward Williams, Richard Score. Turnpike men 1754.

John Thomas died in 1755 and was buried the 27^th of February. According to the handwritting in His Book, he copied out his list of Surveyors in 1736 and then added the names year by year. There is now a gap in the record and someone else has entered the names in the Book.

1773. John Comber.

1775. The Revd Mr Tooke Rector.

1776. Thomas Graunt.

1777. Mr Graunt.

1778. Mr Graunt.

1779. Thomas Graunt.

1780. John Comber.

1782. Joseph Inman.

1783. John Hooper.

1784. Thomas Jones.

1785. Thomas Jones.

1786. Edward Tucker.

1787. George Sayer.

1788. Thomas Hobbs.

1789. James Legg.

1790. The Revd Mr Tooker.

1791. John Dymont.

1792. William White.

1793. William Brice Pool.

1794. Richard White.

1795. Anthony Starkey.

1796. William Biffen.

1797. Thomas Hobbs.

1798. Thomas Hobbs.

1799. John Dyment.

1800. John Dyment.

1801. William White.

1802. William Brice Pool.

1803. Anthony Starkey.

1804. Joseph Sidwick.

1805. James Shorney.

1806. James Shorney.

1807. James Shorney.

1808. James Shorney.

1809. Thomas Hobbs.

1810. Thomas Hobbs.

1811. Thomas Hobbs.

1812. Thomas Hobbs.

1813. William White.

1814. J. Hooper.

1815. J. Hooper.

1816. J. Hooper.

1817. J. Hooper.

1818. J. Hooper.

1819. Anthony Starkey.

1848. Thomas Waterman. At a salary of £ 8.

1849. Thomas Waterman. At a salary of £ 6.

1850. Thomas Waterman.

1851. Richard Porter. At a salary of £ 6. (Schoolmaster).

1852. Richard Porter.

1853. Richard Porter.

1854. Richard Porter.

1855. Richard Porter.

1856. Mr William White junior. At a salary of £ 8.

1857. Mr William White junior. At a salary of £ 10.

1858. William White.

1859. Richard Porter.

1860. Richard Porter.

1861. Richard Porter.

1862. Richard Porter.

1863. Richard Porter. (Described as Carpenter).

1864. William Galloway.

1865. William George Galloway.

1866. William Galloway.

1867. William Galloway.

1868. William Galloway.

1869. William Galloway.

1870. William Galloway.

1871. William Waltham.

1872. William Waltham.

1873. William Waltham.

1874. William Waltham.

1875. William Waltham.

1876. William Bishop.

1877. Thomas Waltham.

1878. Thomas Waltham.

1879. Thomas Waltham.

1880. Thomas Waltham.

1881. Thomas Waltham.

1882. James Seward.

1883. Edwin Porter.

1884. John Bousie of Splatt Farm.

1885. Nathan Porter.

1886. Nathan Porter.

1887. Joseph Gould Bullingham.

1888. Joseph Gould Bullingham.

1889. Thomas Waltham.

1890. Thomas Waltham.

1891. Thomas Waltham.

1892. Walter Gulliford.

1893. Walter Gulliford.

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The chapter continues with further explanation of changes in the Highway Laws and gives detailed Highways Accounts listing more names but this is for another time.

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