Wigan Album

Found in the Account Book of William Gidlow, banking with Thomas Woodcock & Sons.
The Gidlow family owned various collieries and the New Hall Cotton Mill in Ince

It is possible that the turnpike started at Ince Bar (hence the name) and included Pennygate Toll House in Ladies lane (now demolished). It is also a possibility there may have been a toll gate at the Bird i'th Hand in Hindley.

From the late 17th century, Parliament increasingly took responsibility for repairing and maintaining roads from local authorities. Turnpike Acts authorised a trust to levy tolls on those using the road and to use that income to repair and improve the road. They could also purchase property to widen or divert existing roads. The trusts were not-for-profit and maximum tolls were set. The 'turnpike' was the gate which blocked the road until the toll was paid.
By the time the last was passed in 1836, there had been 942 Acts for new turnpike trusts in England and Wales. By then, turnpikes covered around 22,000 miles of road, about a fifth of the entire road network.

In 1836, William Gidlow was the Treasurer, Henry Gaskell (Clerk) and the surveyor was Richard Mather receiving annually £10, £10, and £15 respectively