Todmorden to Littleborough Turnpike

Todmorden Road Turnpike - Steanor Bottom to Littleborough Centre

The Turnpike Road from Halifax to Todmorden and Burnley and Littleborough was authorised in 1759 or 1760 under An Act for diverting, altering, widening, repairing and amending the Roads from the Town of Halifax, and from Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York, by Todmorden, to Burnley and Littleborough, in the County of Lancashire. However, it was not until 1777 that the Trustees instructed their surveyor to mark out the road between Todmorden and Dean Head. Initial work concentrated on linking Todmorden to Steanor Bottom where it connected with the extended Whitelees to Doghills. road. Work on the Turnpike Road may have been affected by the construction of the Rochdale Canal which was opened to Todmorden from Sowerby Bridge in August 1798 and to Rochdale in December 1798. The construction of the canal helped drain Gale Flats, a notoriously wet location. By 1823, the Trustees accepted the plans and valuations for the new road including borrowing £4,000 with construction progressing during 1823 and 1824 (being undertaken in 8 lots) such that the new road was open throughout to Littleborough on 28th July 1824. Toll houses were provided at Steanor Bottom and 105 yards north of the junction with the Blackstone Edge Turnpike.

Todmorden Road as the route of this Turnpike is now known, ceased to be a toll road around 1877 -79.

Summit Gap looking west from Warland Gate End. The 2 Turnpikes are clearly visible joining at Steanor Bottom. The Reddyshore Scout Gate generally followed the ridge-line. Long Lees Chemical Works is bottom left next the canal.

Places along the Steanor Bottom to Littleborough Turnpike

As mentioned earlier, when this turnpike was completed, James Lord, Victualler and Butcher used the materials from his demolished 'Bull and Butchers' Inn at Doghills to construct the Summit Inn located just north of the western lock of the Summit Pound of the Rochdale Canal. Further south, at Rock Nook, Fothergill and Harvey developed their mill complex. A relatively short distance south but above the road was Stansfield School and then Samuel Bowden's Grove Dyeworks where the method of dyeing Khaki cloth was perfected. Even further south and at a lower level, Lawrence Newall (who just happened to be a member of the turnpike trust!) purchased land at Gale upon which he built Gale House plus Gale Mill and the Gale Public House as well as some adjacent housing. The Gale Inn continued serving the local community for nearly 150 years before finally closing in 1998. Both Grove dyeworks and Gale Mill are now closed with the sites covered by housing.

TOLL HOUSES

One of the most prominent features on the road is the Steanor Bottom Toll House (pictured left in earlier times before reconstruction) located at the bottom of the road down from Doghills. The distinctive two storey toll house was built in 1824 and was in use for some 50 years and when no longer required as a toll-house, it was occupied for some time before becoming derelict. In 1972, it was badly damaged by a storm which dislodged the roof and part of the structure. Following an appeal the restored toll house and extension was completed in 1980. When in use, the building displayed a list of tolls which the Trust was authorised to collect. One of the Toll Boards is now in the History Society’s collection.

The Southerly Toll House was located opposite Victoria Street, 105 yds or more from the junction with the Blackstone Edge Turnpike. It was pulled down in 1877/78 by William Greenwood of Ebor Iron Works, to be replaced by two shops one side of which went down River Street. The toll house resembled that at Steanor Bottom and the last toll keeper and bill poster was Mr Dixon.

The building located adjacent to the traffic lights near the viaduct and erroneously referred to as the old Toll House was built by a local architect called Mr Shuttleworth as an office for his business. He built it in the style of a toll house in the late 1860s early 1870s.. Mr Shuttleworth was for a time Secretary to the Littleborough Local Board..