New Road (London)
Encyclopedia
The New Road was a turnpike road built across fields around the northern boundaries of London, the first part of which opened in 1756. The route comprises the following modern-day roads: Old Marylebone Road, Marylebone Road
, Euston Road
, Pentonville Road, City Road
, and Moorgate
.
and Islington
, at that time separate villages close to London, petitioned Parliament for the right to provide a Turnpike trust
road by-passing the northern boundaries of the then built up area of London. The road was intended initially as a route for cattle and sheep to be driven to the live meat market at Smithfield
from the various roads approaching London from the north and north-west, thus avoiding the congested east-west route via Oxford Street and High Holborn.
The road would leave a point very close to the junction of the Harrow Road
and Edgware Road and head due east past the northern end of Marylebone Lane to Tottenham Court, and from there via Battle Bridge, St Pancras, to the top of St Johns Street in Islington, from where the market was just a short distance.
The proposal was referred to a Parliamentary Committee which, despite opposition from the Duke of Bedford, recommended approval; it suggested that responsibility for the road be divided between two existing trusts, the St Marylebone (for the section from Edgware Road to Tottenham Court, plus a side street which became Portland Road) and the Islington (Tottenham Court to the Angel, Islington).
Royal assent for the Act was granted in May 1756. The road was to be a minimum of 40 feet (12.2 m) wide, and no buildings were to be allowed within 50 feet (15.2 m) of the edge of the road. In fact the road was built to a minimum width of 60 feet (18.3 m), and very rapidly. The engineering at first was fairly crude, involving mainly cutting down hedges and filling in ditches, and the route was bounded by fence posts.
At first, each of the administering trusts retained the tolls that it exacted as travellers passed its gates, but the tickets issued were valid across the section operated by the other trust.
Five years later the road was extended at its eastern end south-eastwards to Old Street and onwards terminating near Moorgate
.
As examples of revenue, the St Marylebone trust exacted £400 in 1757, which had risen to £700 in 1764.
Certainly by 1829 much of the road was bordered by fashionable houses, and it was in that year that the first horse omnibus service in London was establish by George Shillibeer
. His example started a trend which was followed by many others, and the route became the main artery for such traffic for the remainder of the century, linking the sought-after north-western suburbs of 'Tyburnia' with the financial centre (the City of London
).
In 1863, the Metropolitan Railway
opened the first urban underground railway in the world. Most of this line followed much of the original route of the New Road from Paddington to Kings Cross.
In the twentieth century, with the advent of motor buses and other motor vehicles the route became an important orbital road for the northern part of inner London, and became part of the inner ring road
.
Currently the route of the road as far as the Old Street roundabout forms the northern boundary of the London Congestion Charge
area. Traffic can use the route free of charge, but a charge applies when accessing the roads to the south.
Marylebone Road
Marylebone Road is an important thoroughfare in central London, within the City of Westminster. It runs east-west from the Euston Road at Regent's Park to the A40 Westway at Paddington...
, Euston Road
Euston Road
Euston Road is an important thoroughfare in central London, England, and forms part of the A501. It is part of the New Road from Paddington to Islington, and was opened as part of the New Road in 1756...
, Pentonville Road, City Road
City Road
City Road or The City Road is a road that runs through inner north and central London. The northwestern extremity of the road is at the Angel, Islington where it forms a continuation of Pentonville Road. Pentonville Road itself is the modern name for London's first bypass, the New Road from...
, and Moorgate
Moorgate
Moorgate was a postern in the London Wall originally built by the Romans. It was turned into a gate in the 15th century. Though the gate was demolished in 1762, the name survives as a major street in the City of London...
.
Early history
In 1755 various influential residents of St Marylebone, PaddingtonPaddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
and Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, at that time separate villages close to London, petitioned Parliament for the right to provide a Turnpike trust
Turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
road by-passing the northern boundaries of the then built up area of London. The road was intended initially as a route for cattle and sheep to be driven to the live meat market at Smithfield
Smithfield, London
Smithfield is an area of the City of London, in the ward of Farringdon Without. It is located in the north-west part of the City, and is mostly known for its centuries-old meat market, today the last surviving historical wholesale market in Central London...
from the various roads approaching London from the north and north-west, thus avoiding the congested east-west route via Oxford Street and High Holborn.
The road would leave a point very close to the junction of the Harrow Road
Harrow Road
The Harrow Road is an ancient route in Greater London which runs from Paddington in a northwesterly direction to Harrow. With minor deviations in the 19th and 20th centuries, the route remains otherwise unaltered...
and Edgware Road and head due east past the northern end of Marylebone Lane to Tottenham Court, and from there via Battle Bridge, St Pancras, to the top of St Johns Street in Islington, from where the market was just a short distance.
The proposal was referred to a Parliamentary Committee which, despite opposition from the Duke of Bedford, recommended approval; it suggested that responsibility for the road be divided between two existing trusts, the St Marylebone (for the section from Edgware Road to Tottenham Court, plus a side street which became Portland Road) and the Islington (Tottenham Court to the Angel, Islington).
Royal assent for the Act was granted in May 1756. The road was to be a minimum of 40 feet (12.2 m) wide, and no buildings were to be allowed within 50 feet (15.2 m) of the edge of the road. In fact the road was built to a minimum width of 60 feet (18.3 m), and very rapidly. The engineering at first was fairly crude, involving mainly cutting down hedges and filling in ditches, and the route was bounded by fence posts.
At first, each of the administering trusts retained the tolls that it exacted as travellers passed its gates, but the tickets issued were valid across the section operated by the other trust.
Five years later the road was extended at its eastern end south-eastwards to Old Street and onwards terminating near Moorgate
Moorgate
Moorgate was a postern in the London Wall originally built by the Romans. It was turned into a gate in the 15th century. Though the gate was demolished in 1762, the name survives as a major street in the City of London...
.
As examples of revenue, the St Marylebone trust exacted £400 in 1757, which had risen to £700 in 1764.
Later history
From somewhat unglamorous beginnings, the route was to become a very important transport link. In due course the road was improved and metalled. Over the course of the remainder of the eighteenth century the northern edge of the built-up area of London moved northwards towards the road, finally engulfing it, though the 50 feet (15.2 m) building margin was enforced.Certainly by 1829 much of the road was bordered by fashionable houses, and it was in that year that the first horse omnibus service in London was establish by George Shillibeer
George Shillibeer
George Shillibeer was an English coachbuilder.Shillibeer was born in St Marylebone, London the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Shillibeer. Christened in St Marys Church, Marylebone on 22 October 1797, Shillibeer worked for the coach company Hatchetts in Long Acre, the coach-building district of the...
. His example started a trend which was followed by many others, and the route became the main artery for such traffic for the remainder of the century, linking the sought-after north-western suburbs of 'Tyburnia' with the financial centre (the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
).
In 1863, the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
opened the first urban underground railway in the world. Most of this line followed much of the original route of the New Road from Paddington to Kings Cross.
In the twentieth century, with the advent of motor buses and other motor vehicles the route became an important orbital road for the northern part of inner London, and became part of the inner ring road
London Inner Ring Road
The London Inner Ring Road is the name commonly given to a route formed from a number of major roads that encircle the centremost part of London...
.
Currently the route of the road as far as the Old Street roundabout forms the northern boundary of the London Congestion Charge
London congestion charge
The London congestion charge is a fee charged for some categories of motor vehicle to travel at certain times within the Congestion Charge Zone , a traffic area in London. The charge aims to reduce congestion, and raise investment funds for London's transport system...
area. Traffic can use the route free of charge, but a charge applies when accessing the roads to the south.