Tolworth Treasure: the Ancient Droves of Tolworth Court Farm
Lucy reading William Blake Drove roads often followed ancient trackways and sometimes ran parallel to turnpikes in order to avoid paying tolls. Drove roads were nearly 20m in width and were often hedged to prevent animals straying into local herds, and from damaging cultivated crops. The routes were sometimes way marked with evergreen trees - easily visible at all times of the year - and included holly, laurel, yew, growing freely above the hedge line. Scots pine and larch were also used as way marks along the route and clumps of these trees also denoted stopping places at inns and farms, the word 'clump' being associated with drover's roads. Lucy reading 'Pylons' just before the kestrel appeared Droving inns were called 'butts' and had adjoining paddocks of about 8 acres where the animals rested on their journey. Tree lined ponds were also situated along the route for the watering of animals. Drove roads are o...