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The turnpiking of roads which had begun in the 18th Century continued into the 19th. Until 1808 there was no direct route from Rotherham to Parkgate and Rawmarsh, the way being either through Greasbrough and along Scrooby Street, or along Doncaster Road and Aldwarke Lane. In that year a turnpiked road was built to serve these communities, whilst from Rawmarsh to Swinton the narrow country lanes were straightened, widened and subjected to tolls. The road from Wentworth to Hooton Roberts was turnpiked in 1818, much of the cost being paid by Earl Fitzwilliam. In 1826 the road from Wellgate along Broom Road and Wickersley Road to the Brecks by the Rotherham and Barnby Moor Trust.
Better roads led to a vast increase in public transport both local and distance. There were mail coachs, stagecoachs, light carriages and carrier services. In Rotherham services ran from the Crown Inn to Doncaster and Sheffield, and later Lincoln, Louth, Manchester and Thorne. Onwards connections could be made at some of these places.
There was a connection to Scarborough during the bathing season. As an example the mail coach from Sheffield to Doncaster via Rotherham took about 1½ hours and the fare from Rotherham to Doncaster was 4shillings.
The building of the railways later in the 19th Century resulted in a dramatic drop in income from tolls and many turnpike trusts ran up large debts. From the 1870s Parliament began to close down the turnpike trusts progressively as long as they did not leave their debts as a burden on the local communities. From 1871, all applications for renewal were sent to a Turnpike Trust Commission which arranged for existing Acts to continue, but with the objective of discharging the debt, and returning the roads to local administration. By this time local Highways Boards were in existence and the Local Government Act 1888 gave responsibility for maintaining main roads to county councils and county borough councils. Trust assets such as toll houses, gates and sections of surplus land beside the road were auctioned off to reduce the debts. The Turnpike Trusts had always been hated by the people so when they came to an end and the gates were left permanently open or removed altogether there was often great celebration. However in many parts the roads built by the turnpike trusts still form the basis of the modern road system. Now you know why there are so many traffic jams.
During the 19th Century many parts of Rotherham were subject to development. From 1850 onwards the Earl of Effingham began to develop his land to the north of College Street. Effingham Street, Howard Street and Frederick Street were laid out. The remains of the college buildings disappeared some time after this. St Anne's Field and College Field to the northeast of the town were largely built over as the century progressed. At Eastwood the estate and the hall were purchased by the Badgers. Roads were laid out eg. Fitzwilliam and Cottenham Road and the land divided into plots which were later developed