justify further proceedings. In October the tolls were again let, but for £870 only.

The Trust was approaching its end, and the Trustees seemed to have been anxious as to their financial position. The surveyor and treasurer had evidently been ordered to make a careful examination of business entrusted to them; for, January, 1870, there is the following entry made in the Minute Book, on the statement of the surveyor and treasurer having been examined, "The Trustees were unanimously of the opinion that the state of their finances was far more satisfactory than, at their last meeting, they had reason to hope." February 7th, 1870, a letter was read from the Secretary of State relating to the course to be adopted in winding up the Trust, and enclosing extracts from the various Turnpike Acts bearing on the subject. Its further consideration was postponed until the following meeting, to be called at the end of March; when the sale of the Trust property was also to be taken into consideration, and arrangements made for its disposal.

March 30th, 1870, the special meeting assembled at the "Cock Inn," according to notice, for the purpose of receiving the official report of the surveyor appointed to value the Trust property, and to determine upon the mode of proceeding in reference to the sale and disposal of such properties.

"The report of Mr. Hine, the surveyor, containing the estimate of the respective values set upon the different Trust properties having been read and approved, it was resolved that such properties should be offered to the several parties having the right of pre-emption at such estimated value; and that, in the event of their declining to avail themselves of such right, the said properties, or such of them as shall not be taken, or sold, shall be submitted to public auction at the 'Cock Inn,' at Epping, on Friday, the 13th day of May; and the reserved price to be fixed on each property to be finally determined at a meeting of the Trustees, to be held on the 20th day of April next, for that and other purposes."

June 24th. The clerk reported to the Trustees then assembled that the sale of the Trust property had taken

place according to their instruction. The amount realised was £957 6s., as is shown by the following statement copied from the account book :

ACCOUNT SALES of the entire Trust property on the expiration of the Trust and removal of the gates.

The general statement of account, consisting of receipts and disbursements, to be certified by the Chairman, and a copy sent to the Home Office, was made to the end of June; it includes the payment of the only remaining bond and interest, £572 10s. The balance was ordered, at the adjourned meeting of the Trustees held August 26th, after all the Trust's liabilities had been satisfied, to be divided into two equal portions, one portion to be equally divided between the clerk, treasurer, and surveyor, and the other moiety between the several parishes through which ran the road comprised within the Trust.

The following are the particulars of the final balance

The Woodford turnpike gate at the junction of the old road through Loughton and the new road through the forest has been removed, and a horse trough put in its place. But the Epping toll-house still remains. It has had a story added to it, and is known as Belle Vue Cottage. Standing opposite. the road which leads to Theydon Bois it commands extensive views over Bell Common, the forest, along the high road in each direction, and down the road to Theydon that runs on one side of Bell Common, from which it was formerly separated by a ditch and bank having on it a fence to prevent travellers passing over the common, and so avoiding the turnpike, and the payment of tolls.

247

CHAPTER XI.

ACCOUNTS OF THE TRUST.

THE account book commences in 1805 with a balance brought forward from the previous year of £104 14s. Id.

The items run on, and no balance is struck until the end. of July, 1810.

The money received during the 5 balance above mentioned, amounted to and the expenditure to..

leaving in the hands of the treasurer

years, including the

£8,332 5 3

7,867 6 4

£464 18 11

The receipts were derived principally from tolls; a small sum came in for road sand, and occasionally there is mention made of a small fine, but what for is not stated. The accounts were again made up to the end of September. During the intervening two months there had been received from tolls £290 19s. 4d. and expended £47 4s. 7d.

The balance September 30th, the end of the financial year,

in the treasurer's hands was £708 13s. 8d. The expenditure had been, during the 5

years, for
£

S. d.

Interest on the money borrowed on the

security of the toll..

and £480 for incidental expenses, such as salaries, repairs to buildings, drains, &c. And in June, 1805, £8 was paid for

land required to widen the road at Bobbingworth.

The accounts, during the next four years, were commenced in the October of one year and completed and balanced September 30th in the following year; they were audited and signed by the Trustees present. The balance commenced the next financial year.

For the sake of comparison it is thought to be advisable to arrange the account as follows. In the account book each item, both of receipt and expenditure, is recorded.

ACCOUNTS (showing the year in which they are audited and balanced).

June, 1811.-There are the following entries forming part of

After 1814 the accounts were made up at irregular intervals; and the balance not satisfactorily obtained, as appears by the following entry, November, 1816, in handwriting, differing from that of the keeper of the account books, and looking as if the writer had given up the attempt to obtain a correct balance as altogether hopeless.

"Treasurer debits by balance, reported to

be in his hand

By 6 months receipt from the lessee of

the tolls as on the other side

£831 5 6

1,012 10 0"