The Exeter Road: the story of the west of England highway

Traveling the historic West of England highway, listeners are treated to a vivid tableau of villages, inns, and turning points that have shaped the landscape since the turnpike era. The author stitches together colourful anecdotes, old prints, and personal observations, bringing to life the chatter of market towns, the clatter of horse‑drawn mail coaches, and the occasional legend of bustling fairs. Illustrations of iconic scenes—like the lioness attacking a mail coach or the stately arches of Wellington—provide a visual anchor that the narration paints with rich detail.

What sets this work apart is its focus on the everyday gossip that county historians often ignore, preserving the fleeting stories of places such as Little Pedlington and Crayford before they fade. Guided by a scholar intimately familiar with Wiltshire and the surrounding counties, the narrative balances thorough research with the warmth of a local storyteller. Listeners will find themselves whisked from the quiet lanes of Somerset to the bustling toll‑gates of Knightsbridge, gaining a sense of both the road’s grand history and its humble, human moments.