A reference of historical and heritage terms you'll encounter while exploring The Codex.
A type of inn that served as a stopping point along major coaching routes, providing food, drink, lodging, and fresh horses for stagecoach travellers. These inns were spaced roughly 10-15 miles apart — the distance a team of horses could travel before needing to be changed. Many coaching inns still exist today as pubs or hotels, often retaining their historic character and large stable yards.
A stone marker placed along roads to indicate the distance to nearby towns or cities. Milestones became widespread in Britain during the turnpike era (18th-19th century), when they were often required by law on toll roads. Many survive today as listed heritage features, typically showing distances in miles to London or the nearest major settlement.
A small administrative district, historically centred around a church. In England, civil parishes have existed since the medieval period and formed the basic unit of local government for centuries. Each parish maintained its own records, cared for its poor, and managed local affairs. The Codex organises Realms primarily by parish boundaries, reflecting these deep-rooted community identities.
A scheduled route along which stagecoaches carried passengers and mail between towns and cities, particularly during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Routes were divided into "stages" — the distance between coach changes — with coaching inns at each stop. The London to Southampton route, passing through Hook, was one of the busiest in Hampshire.
A detailed map created in the 1830s-40s as part of the Tithe Commutation Act, which converted the traditional payment of tithes (a tenth of agricultural produce to the church) into cash payments. Tithe maps show field boundaries, buildings, roads, and land use at a specific moment in time. They're invaluable for heritage research, often showing features that have since disappeared.
A small building at a turnpike gate where tolls were collected from travellers using the road. Toll houses were typically positioned to give the toll keeper a clear view of approaching traffic in both directions. Many had distinctive architectural features — bay windows, overhanging upper floors, or hexagonal plans — and survive today as private homes, often recognisable by their position at road junctions.
A toll road maintained by a turnpike trust, a private organisation authorised by Parliament to collect fees from travellers and use the income to maintain and improve the road. Turnpikes were common in Britain from the early 18th century until the railways made them obsolete in the mid-19th century. The name comes from the pike (a type of barrier) that blocked the road until the toll was paid. Many modern A-roads follow the routes of former turnpikes.