Ready Token

Ready Token is a hamlet in Gloucestershire, in the Cotswold Hills near Poulton, England. Despite comprising only a handful of houses it is located at a high point and is notable for being the meeting place of six country roads and nine parish boundaries.[1] It lies at the intersection of the ancient drove road known as the Welsh Way and the Roman Akeman Street.[2] It once possessed an inn, recorded in 1738 as under the sign Ready Token Ash.[3]

The crossroads at Ready Token looking towards Fairford.

The name is a fusion of the Celtic word rhydd and the Saxon word tacen meaning the way to the ford. The ford being that across the River Coln at Fairford.[3]

Another explanation for the name is that the inn extended no credit and would only accept cash payment, i.e. "ready cash" or "tokens".[4]

It is the site of a house which has a butterfly shaped plan which mirrors the local butterfly shaped road pattern designed by the Arts and Crafts movement architect, Norman Jewson, built in 1928–1929.[5]

References
  1. Aston, Michael Interpreting the Landscape: Landscape Archaeology & Local History, Page 42, Psychology Press, 1997 ISBN 0415151406
  2. Copeland, Tim, Akeman Street, The History Press, 2009. ISBN 9780752447322
  3. Gibbs, J. Arthur, A Cotswold Village Or Country Life and Pursuits in Gloucestershire,Echo Library, 2008, Page 51, ISBN 1406870676
  4. Poulton Cotwold District Council On line, Accessed Jan 2013
  5. Owlpen Manor Estate Norman Jewson, architect by Nicholas Mander, 2012 , List of architectural works
  • Road travel and transport in Gloucestershire, 1722-1822: extracts - Page 25, N. M. Herbert, Publisher A. Sutton, 1985


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