Sparrows Herne Turnpike Road ** from London to Aylesbury was an 18th-century English toll road passing through Watford and Hemel Hempstead. The route was approximately that of the original A41 road; the Edgware Road, through Watford, Kings Langley, Apsley, the Boxmoor area of Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Northchurch, Cow Roast and Tring. Much of this part is now numbered the A4251 road. It linked in with other turnpikes to the north forming a route to Birmingham. The turnpike** trust was set up**** in**** 1762**** by**** around**** 300 landed**** gentry****,**** who obtained**** an**** act of**** Parliament****,**** the **** (2 Geo****.**** 3.**** c.**** 63****), to**** look**** after about 26**** miles of**** road**** between Sparrows**** Herne near**** Bushey**** and Walton**** near**** Aylesbury.**** It was the turnpike's depot at Sparrows Herne which gave the road its name. The frequent use of the route by heavy carts carrying grain to London made it notorious for its rutted and pitted state even after being made into a turnpike. The turnpike survived the coming of the railways until 1872, when it passed to the route's various parishes and highway boards to maintain and the tolls were removed.

Description

The original turnpike gates were: Brick toll houses for these gates were built at a cost of around £25 each. Tollkeepers were appointed and paid 10s/6d a week for which they had to man the gate day and night and from which money they had to pay for the oil for the nighttime illumination of the gates with lamps. In 1762, the maximum rate for tolls were: