Plan of Turnpike Gates around London 1801

Tolls from the turnpike gates were meant to go towards the upkeep of the roads, although often funds were siphoned off by both the gate collectors and the owners of the Trusts which controlled the various turnpikes. Turnpike Trusts were highly profitable businesses, and were often sold at auction for extremely high sums. The were various rates for carriages, riders, drovers and sundry animals, while prison carts, mail coaches, funerals and soldiers in uniform were generally allowed through for free. The busiest turnpikes were those at the Elephant and Castle, Hyde Park Corner, Tyburn, Islington, Tottenham Court Road and Mile End Road. The map above is by John Cary.