Winstone’s History of the Epping & Ongar Highway Trust

Extracts from the Minutes of the Epping and Ongar Highway Trust. From its Commencement in 1769 to its Termination in 1870. London: Harrison and Sons, 1891

Printed for private circulation (as minutes of all but the most vainglorious committees would be), Benjamin Winstone was clearly not anticipating a mass readership. Read more

His book provides a useful insight into the turnpike system in its heydey, and the early days of modern road building. In 1830 John Loudon Macadam ‘the celebrated maker of roads’ (p. 199) was among three applicants for the post of surveyor, at a salary of £50. After pointing out that this was inadequate he was voted into the job and given a salary of £100 – Macadam was evidently convincing as well as forthright.

Condition & Materials

Royal 8vo (27.5 cm tall). pp. viii, 303, [i] + 25 black and white maps and illustrations (including frontispiece), some folding, and 2 further illustrations in the text. Green publisher’s cloth, ruled and lettered in gilt, with gilt inner dentelles; top edge gilt. The verso of the free endpaper is inscribed ‘with the author’s compliments’, and loosely inserted is a signed autograph letter presenting the book to the library at Gaynes Park, Theydon Garnon, Essex. The letter is addressed to Chisenhall-Marsh Esq, presumably William Swaine Chisenhall-Marsh who lived at Gaynes Park 1882-1917. Deeds mentioning Gaynes Park are transcribed in the appendix. Read less