Littleborough from Cleggswood Hill
BLACKSTONE EDGE TURNPIKE
General History
Travellers over Blackstone Edge have long recorded their experiences from as far back as the Doomsday book in 1070. However, traffic over the Edge increased with Trains of Packhorses carrying goods worth £1,000 in the late 17th Century. Pre turnpiking, Daniel Defoe crossed in a storm during 1724. Many travellers recorded their concerns about the poor roads and treacherous conditions. The Rochdale to Elland Turnpike was established in 1734 to improve the existing the Packhorse Roads and/or stretches of local roads between Rochdale and Elland (and later Halifax). The concern were raised even though the so called Roman Road' which crosses the moor even now provides a wide and durable crossing albeit somewhat steep on the west side.
The first tolls were collected in 1734. A further Act in 1754 gave powers to widen the road but the trust was still criticised. For the roads poor state of repair. Further Acts were obtained which did lead to improvements especially in reducing the heavy gradients. The Trust was finally dissolved in 1872.
Hurstead to Whitelees Road
The main A58 road through Littleborough follows the Blackstone Edge Turnpike in its final form before abolition albeit with some minor changes, junction improvements etc. However, the first turnpike largely followed earlier tracks and Pack Horse Ways. The initial route from Greengate to Whitelees Road followed a slightly more southerly route much of which still exists, eg the ‘Old Road in Wuerdle (see sketch map top right). Toll Gates were located along the route with the present names of Greengate and Whitegate suggesting their location although this supposition has not been proven.
During the 1770s ands 1780s, the Trust were determined to undertake improvements between Hurstead and Littleborough which led to the construction of the New Road in Dearnley (pictured below left and right). A new Stubley Ticket Gate was built adjacent to Watling St and New St. The new (2021) housing estate just east of New St had eradicated any trace of the old road at this point. The steam tram is on the new road west of where the Stubley ticket Gate was located. The picture bottom right is where the Whitelees to Doghills Turnpike went off. The Whitelees Gate was probably just off the picture to the right.
Whitelees Road to Littleborough
Just beyond where the Whitelees to Dog Holes turnpike left the Blackstone Edge Turnpike was the the Whitelees Toll Gate but the actual location of the Gate is unclear. Its position was such that local traffic would not be required to pay tolls on this end of this part of the Doghills Turnpike Road.
Littleborough Centre
For many years the Turnpike went north of the Falcon and to the south of the Royal Oak along the alignment of John Hill St before joining what is now Church St. as shown on the 1780 plan right. Improvements between 1780 and 1820 led to the construction of Church St between Morgan St and Hare Hill Road thus avoiding the route over James Hill. The current Holy Trinity Parish Church was built between 1815 – 1820, some 15 yards (15 metres) north of the 1471 church suggesting the Turnpike passed to its south. By 1825, the Rochdale Canal had been built as had the Todmorden to Littleborough Turnpike per Circa 1825 Plan
Littleborough to The Rake Inn
The turnpike passed by Ealees Hall (occupied since 1561) as well as Windy Bank. With the building of the railway viaduct during 1837/8 the road layout next the River Roch bridge was changed and numerous properties including Ealees Hall were demolished. Both the Red Lion Inn and Rake Inn were long time hostelries.
Between the Rake and Rough farm (built circa mid-18th C), it is probable that the Trust had improved and widened the Packhorse Road under the first and second Turnpike Acts sufficient to accommodate wheeled vehicles but largely serving the Packhorse Trains. Climbing up from the Rake Inn pictured above towards Windy Bank House (pictured top centre in the picture above) where it passed through what is now the garden. Nowadays, the early Packhorse and Turnpike alignments are hidden underneath the garden but the route remains a public footpath which crosses the roadway to Windy Bank Farm. Both Packhorse and Turnpike Roads then headed straight up to Gatehouse passing alongside the back gardens of houses on the Old Road and at Gatehouse, they passed directly in front of the terrace on the south side of the current road. See picture of Gatehouse right.
The growth of wheeled vehicles created pressure for a more easily graded route. The 3rd Act included the relevant powers and the 1760s saw work to divert and alter the Turnpike Road between Littleborough and especially between the Rake and Gatehouse passing at a lower level to the north and North-east around Windy Bank creating the present Blackstone Edge Old Road. Payments in 1770 included various land purchases and sales. The trust obtained land to straighten the road between the Canal Bridge and The Rake as well as purchasing land and demolishing properties around Gatehouse and Barn’ o the Lane. This work may well have resulted in the Cutting beyond Gatehouse and the embankment in front of Lydgate Green (with datestone 1764 JBL in the porch) but some of that work may have been undertaken by the local authority. control.
Whilst the settlement near the top of the hill is called Gatehouse there is no record of there being a toll house but local residents believe that a gate was located here with tolls collected at Rough Farm.
Blackstone Edge Old Road - Rough to White House via Stormer Bar
Rough Farmhouse, (painted white in the photograph left) was where the tolls were collected. Drovers watered their animals in the clough below the bridge. The location of the toll building suggests that the first toll road followed the Packhorse Road which runs in front of the cottages (and earlier mill) at High Peak.
The route used by the first turnpike over Blackstone Edge remains uncertain. It is suggested that the so called 'Roman Road' was in fact the work of the Blackstone Edge Turnpike Trust as the original Packhorse Way remains in situ (and un-widened) to the west of the wide stone pavement. Both meet just below the ‘Aiggin Stone’, a way marker cross next to Blackstone Edge Summit.
Around 1760 an easier route over Blackstone Edge was constructed which went from Rough Farm to where where Stormer Bar was later built (in 1838) via Oil Mill Bridge (in the above picture). After Stormer Bar (picture bottom) the road ran at a lower level than the later and current road before climbing more steeply to the Coach & Horses Once (now the White House)
Blackstone Edge New Road
As the number of horse drawn Coaches including Royal Mail Coaches grew. there was a real need to improve the Turnpike Road. This led to further improvements with the current Halifax Road completed in 1820/1. The work included a new road between the Rake and Stormer Bar as well as another section between Stormer Bar and the Coach and Horses (or White House as it was increasingly called). In 1825 the whole length of the ‘new’ road from the Rake to The Coach & Horses was complete to the satisfaction of the Inspector General of Mails (for the use by Mail Coaches). Some 6 coaches operated daily between Rochdale and Halifax – Shuffle, Perseverance, High Flier, Defiance, Duke of Leeds and Commerce.
The picture (below right) shows a group heading for the Coach and Horses. They probably walked up the 'Old' road which joined the 'New' road just out of the picture bottom left
Stormer Hill Bar, formerly Toll Bar Cottage (or Bar House) was originally constructed in 1838 with a porch provided in 1911. The Toll House was constructed where the two Toll Roads crossed as is clearly shown in the photograph (pictured bottom left). The A58 passes alongside the Bar House with the ‘Old’ road crossing south to north on the west side of the building. Stormer Bar had a weighing machine. Both Turnpike routes combine on the approach to the White House just prior where the walkers are seen approaching the pub which remains to this day, a building whose roots go back to the 17th Century.
Coaches ceased to operation over The Blackstone Edge Turnpike in 1843 following the opening of the Manchester & Leeds Railway through Summit Tunnel
Whilst the A58 remains an important road the M62 a mile or so east now carries much of the Cross-Pennine traffic
