Putney Turnpike
Watercolour by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm depicting the Putney Turnpike. 1774.
The Putney Turnpike was a key toll road connecting Putney to central London and surrounding parishes. Established in the 1700s, it formed part of a network of turnpike roads that improved travel and trade across south-west London. Travelers paid tolls to use the road, which funded its maintenance and development.
Located near the Putney Bridge, the turnpike played a vital role in the movement of goods and people, especially before the advent of railways. It contributed to Putney’s growth from a rural village into a bustling suburb, with increased traffic supporting local commerce and services.
The turnpike system was eventually phased out in the late 19th century as rail and public transport expanded.
Artist Biography
Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (1733–1794) Swiss-born draughtsman and watercolourist, Grimm trained in Bern and Paris before settling in London in 1768. Renowned for his topographical and antiquarian drawings, he travelled extensively across England, producing thousands of works for patrons including Gilbert White and Sir William Burrell. His atmospheric depictions of Georgian England contributed to the rise of the English watercolour tradition. Grimm died in London, where he had lived and worked for over two decades.
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