of the final opening of the railway from Bourne to King's Lynn, the line having been opened in stages from 1858. This road was declared a main road by the Highways Act of 1878. The road from Bourne to Spalding was turnpiked in 1822 and freed from tolls in 1860. It was declared a main road by the Highways Act of 1878. Before 1822, this section was in three parts. One led out from Bourne onto Bourne North Fen. The Spalding end led out from Spalding to the Spalding and Pinchbeck fen edge bank. The linking section was not officially a road. There was however, some droving traffic which was frowned upon by the drainage authorities, whose embankments it tended to erode. According to Cary's map of 1787, the official route ran via Tongue End (TF155188) and crossed the River Glen at Gurthram (TF173224). Toll gates The principal source of information about the positions of toll gates is the Ordnance Survey 1 inch map published in 1824. It places them as follows: Corby Toll Bar. SK969234 (also 1834–6) T[urn] P[ike]. SK991247 T P. TF062210 (also 1834–6) T P. TF079198 (also 1834-6 but there shown as on the Stamford road) Friers Bar. TF117206 (Exeter Estate book but no gate shown.) T P. TF169223 (corroborated by Paterson's Roads) (also 1834–6) T P. TF198244 (corroborated by Paterson's Roads) (also 1834–6) T P. TF2724. (also 1834-6 and the O.S. map of 1890 shows "The Gate" public house). T P. TF466217. (also 1834–6) The six digit National grid References of the marked positions on the 1824 map are taken from an equivalent modern map. The four digit references are much less accurate, being taken from an Ordnance Survey map by inspection of Wright Fig.3. The Ordnance Survey does not note the Friars Bar toll gate but in the Exeter Estate book, the position is called Friers Bar though no obstruction of the road by a gate is indicated. Paterson's Roads is a road book listing the features of roads and mileages from the ends of its itineraries, sequentially. It is noticeable and a little surprising that according to the Ordnance Survey, it was possible in some cases to go a long way out of a town before coming to a toll gate. This is particularly noticeable eastwards from Spalding. The Condition of the turnpike roads We have a few references to the condition of parts