Description:Many documents in the Sutherland Papers from the middle of the nineteenth century reflect the growth of communications, industry, transport, and trade in Longton during this period.
As extensive landowners in North Staffordshire, the Dukes of Sutherland were involved in the construction of roads and railways on their lands. Amongst Estate Correspondence for 1846 are notes from a meeting of the Stoke District Committee of the North Staffordshire Railway Company held at the Police Station in Stoke-upon-Trent on 21st April 1846.
The North Staffordshire Railway Company had presented their proposals to George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1786-1861), the second Duke of Sutherland. However, questions remained concerning the impact of the railway on the Longton and Trentham Turnpike Road. The minutes state that the Duke argued for 'the erection of a bridge to carry the Longton and Trentham Turnpike Road over the Railway instead of a level crossing'.
The meeting minutes suggest that the Duke felt extremely strongly about the bridge, making it an 'absolute condition' of the agreement he held with the Railway Company. He was 'determined to petition' if the bridge was not 'acceded to'. This suggests that the Duke was concerned over the disruption which a level crossing would cause to traffic using the Turnpike road on his lands. J. H. Y. Briggs notes the importance of the Turnpike roads in Longton which made the town 'a communications centre and an attractive location for new industry'. It is evident from Briggs's remarks that the Duke would have been eager to avoid disruption to the road between Longton and Trentham on his estates.
At the same meeting Mr. Elliot, surveyor of the Turnpike Road, estimated that the cost of erecting a thirty foot wide bridge would not exceed £1500. Following this, the matter was 'resolved' with all parties agreeing that 'a Bridge should be erected'.
Contextual information from: J. H. Y. Briggs, A History of Longton. 1.The Birth of a Community (Keele University Department of Adult Education: 1982)