Benger Trails
2. The Malmesbury Turnpike - Brook Cottages

From Sutton Benger Village Hall walk along Bell Lane, carefully cross the main road, and continue walking carefully up Seagry Road. Pause for a while on the left after the bridge, at the sign to Brook Cottages. This was a small farmstead in the 1800s. There is often confusion between these 'Brook Cottages' and the Brookside Cottage' in Seagry Hill, which you will pass on the return leg after leaving Seagry.

Brook Cottages

You are walking along a road that used to be a main road - a Turnpike - created in 1810 by an Act of Parliament to improve the roads to and from Malmesbury.

Bonds Bridge

The original (pre-M4) route from Sutton Benger went through Seagry Hill, rejoining today's road about 200 yards north of the M4. From there the Turnpike continued through Seagry Parish, along the road to Somerford between Upper Seagry and Lower Seagry. There was a Toll Gate in Sutton Benger, near the Old School House, and one in Somerford.

After reading about Brook Cottages, the Bridges and the Milestones, carry on walking carefully up Seagry Road, until you reach the entrance to the farm track on the left, and stop beside the gate.