History
Travel
The Pleasley Road
By 1617 the highway from Rotherham to Mansfield via Mile Oaks and Whiston was described as 'the Auncient Rode way or London way for carryers'. In 1637 John Taylor's Carriers' Cosmographie noted the usual times of arrival and departure for carriers who had converged on the capital from all over the country:
In the reign of Charles II, John Ogilby, Cosmographer to his Majesty, received a Royal command to survey the principal roads of the kingdom. As a result, an atlas, was published in 1674. In a revised and corrected edition of the book, issued in 1698, there is indication of the existence of Sheffield.
Roads were first improved around 1740 when turnpike trusts were given permission by an Act of Parliament to take over certain highways. To cover costs tollgates or turnpikes were set up. Pleasley Road was turnpiked in 1764, and administered by the Rotherham and Pleasley Trust.The turnpike house was situated in the area we now call Whiston Crossroads, at the top of Pleasley Road.
Thomas Jeffrey’s map of Yorkshire, shows 6 ancient highways in the Yorkshire area. These highways were mainly used by packhorses before the turnpike age and were nothing more than tracks.
The main purpose of turnpikes was to improve the carriageways to allow wagons which could move heavy, bulky materials, such as stone, coal, iron and timber. Areas expanded industrially as a result, including Rotherham; the increase in population shows this.
The Pleasley Road about 20 miles in all, proceeded by way of Mansfield, Clown, Barlbro', Killamarsh, Aughton, Packman's Bridge (a significant name), and Whiston, to Rotherham, entering Rotherham by Moorgate. There it crossed the bridge over the Don, and continued northward, through Greasbro' and Wombwell, to Barnsley. This was in fact the Saxon Ricknild Street.
In 1871, Turnpike Trusts were gradually abolished, the maintenance of roads being transferred to local Governing Bodies.
These images show the milepost situated on Moorgate Road, just before the crossroads at Whiston.
On the top the maker - Brayshaw and Booth, Liversedge.
Mansfield 21¼ Pleasley 18¼ Clowne 10¾ miles; all noted on the left. On the right - Rotherham 2 miles.
They are noted under the Listed Buildings.The lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest are registers recording the best of our buildings. They comprise a wide variety of structures, from castles and cathedrals to milestones and village pumps. Some items on the lists are included purely for their historical value.
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