Description

An Early Toll-Road: The Dublin–Dunleer Turnpike, 1731–1855 is the pioneering study of Ireland’s early turnpike road system. Written by civil engineer and transport historian David Broderick, the book traces the evolution of the principal road linking Dublin with the north through Swords, Balbriggan, Drogheda, and Dunleer, revealing how this important transport corridor contributed to Ireland’s economic and social development.

Drawing upon official records, legislation, financial accounts, maps, and contemporary sources, Broderick explains how the turnpike operated, how tolls were collected, and how maintenance and improvements were financed. The study also examines the movement of mail coaches, traders, travellers, livestock, and goods along the route, while highlighting the engineering challenges, changing traffic patterns, and individuals responsible for managing the road during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Part of the respected Maynooth Studies in Irish Local History series, this concise yet informative volume is an essential resource for readers interested in Irish transport history, civil engineering, local history, and the development of Ireland’s road network.