diff --git a/benchmark/test_expression_parse.cpp b/benchmark/test_expression_parse.cpp
index eb93fd433..4c911f821 100644
--- a/benchmark/test_expression_parse.cpp
+++ b/benchmark/test_expression_parse.cpp
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ public:
        expr_("((([mapnik::geometry_type]=2) and ([oneway]=1)) and ([class]='path'))") {}
     bool validate() const
     {
-        mapnik::transcoder tr("utf-8");
-        mapnik::expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> expr_grammar(tr);
+        mapnik::expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> expr_grammar;;
         mapnik::expression_ptr expr = mapnik::parse_expression(expr_,expr_grammar);
         std::string result = mapnik::to_expression_string(*expr);
         bool ret = (result == expr_);
@@ -52,8 +51,7 @@ public:
     }
     void operator()() const
     {
-         mapnik::transcoder tr("utf-8");
-         mapnik::expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> expr_grammar(tr);
+         mapnik::expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> expr_grammar;
          for (std::size_t i=0;i<iterations_;++i) {
              mapnik::expression_ptr expr = mapnik::parse_expression(expr_,expr_grammar);
          }
diff --git a/demo/c++/rundemo.cpp b/demo/c++/rundemo.cpp
index 9d84338a6..56d61d68d 100644
--- a/demo/c++/rundemo.cpp
+++ b/demo/c++/rundemo.cpp
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/color_factory.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/image_util.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/unicode.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/expression.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/expression_string.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/expression_grammar.hpp>
 
 #if defined(HAVE_CAIRO)
 #include <mapnik/cairo_renderer.hpp>
@@ -58,9 +55,6 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         datasource_cache::instance().register_datasources("plugins/input/");
         freetype_engine::register_font("fonts/dejavu-fonts-ttf-2.33/ttf/DejaVuSans.ttf");
 
-        mapnik::transcoder tr("utf-8");
-        mapnik::expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> expr_grammar(tr);
-
         Map m(800,600);
         m.set_background(parse_color("white"));
         m.set_srs(srs_merc);
@@ -70,7 +64,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         feature_type_style provpoly_style;
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[NAME_EN] = 'Ontario'", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[NAME_EN] = 'Ontario'"));
             {
                 polygon_symbolizer poly_sym;
                 put(poly_sym, keys::fill, color(250, 190, 183));
@@ -80,7 +74,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         }
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[NOM_FR] = 'Québec'", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[NOM_FR] = 'Québec'"));
             {
                 polygon_symbolizer poly_sym;
                 put(poly_sym, keys::fill, color(217, 235, 203));
@@ -113,7 +107,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         feature_type_style qcdrain_style;
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[HYC] = 8", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[HYC] = 8"));
             {
                 polygon_symbolizer poly_sym;
                 put(poly_sym, keys::fill, color(153, 204, 255));
@@ -127,7 +121,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         feature_type_style roads34_style;
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 3 or [CLASS] = 4", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 3 or [CLASS] = 4"));
             {
                 line_symbolizer line_sym;
                 put(line_sym,keys::stroke,color(171,158,137));
@@ -144,7 +138,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         feature_type_style roads2_style_1;
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 2", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 2"));
             {
                 line_symbolizer line_sym;
                 put(line_sym,keys::stroke,color(171,158,137));
@@ -160,7 +154,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         feature_type_style roads2_style_2;
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 2", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 2"));
             {
                 line_symbolizer line_sym;
                 put(line_sym,keys::stroke,color(255,250,115));
@@ -177,7 +171,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         feature_type_style roads1_style_1;
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 1", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 1"));
             {
                 line_symbolizer line_sym;
                 put(line_sym,keys::stroke,color(188,149,28));
@@ -193,7 +187,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
         feature_type_style roads1_style_2;
         {
             rule r;
-            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 1", expr_grammar));
+            r.set_filter(parse_expression("[CLASS] = 1"));
             {
                 line_symbolizer line_sym;
                 put(line_sym,keys::stroke,color(242,191,36));
@@ -218,7 +212,7 @@ int main ( int argc , char** argv)
                 placement_finder->defaults.format->fill = color(0,0,0);
                 placement_finder->defaults.format->halo_fill = color(255,255,200);
                 placement_finder->defaults.format->halo_radius = 1;
-                placement_finder->defaults.set_old_style_expression(parse_expression("[GEONAME]", expr_grammar));
+                placement_finder->defaults.set_old_style_expression(parse_expression("[GEONAME]"));
                 put<text_placements_ptr>(text_sym, keys::text_placements_, placement_finder);
                 r.append(std::move(text_sym));
             }
diff --git a/include/mapnik/expression_grammar.hpp b/include/mapnik/expression_grammar.hpp
index 6674f2129..85fce2e5d 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/expression_grammar.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/expression_grammar.hpp
@@ -127,10 +127,11 @@ struct expression_grammar : qi::grammar<Iterator, expr_node(), space_type>
 {
     typedef qi::rule<Iterator, expr_node(), space_type> rule_type;
 
-    explicit expression_grammar(mapnik::transcoder const& tr);
+    explicit expression_grammar();
 
     qi::real_parser<double, qi::strict_real_policies<double> > strict_double;
     typename integer_parser<mapnik::value_integer>::type int__;
+    mapnik::transcoder tr_;
     boost::phoenix::function<unicode_impl> unicode_;
     boost::phoenix::function<regex_match_impl> regex_match_;
     boost::phoenix::function<regex_replace_impl> regex_replace_;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/expression_grammar_impl.hpp b/include/mapnik/expression_grammar_impl.hpp
index 39891d0a1..a46f444cf 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/expression_grammar_impl.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/expression_grammar_impl.hpp
@@ -64,11 +64,12 @@ expr_node regex_replace_impl::operator() (T0 & node, T1 const& pattern, T2 const
 }
 
 template <typename Iterator>
-expression_grammar<Iterator>::expression_grammar(mapnik::transcoder const& tr)
+expression_grammar<Iterator>::expression_grammar()
     : expression_grammar::base_type(expr),
-      unicode_(unicode_impl(tr)),
-      regex_match_(regex_match_impl(tr)),
-      regex_replace_(regex_replace_impl(tr))
+      tr_("utf-8"),
+      unicode_(unicode_impl(tr_)),
+      regex_match_(regex_match_impl(tr_)),
+      regex_replace_(regex_replace_impl(tr_))
 {
     qi::_1_type _1;
     qi::_a_type _a;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/parse_transform.hpp b/include/mapnik/parse_transform.hpp
index 2a98b213d..8e9edebf7 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/parse_transform.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/parse_transform.hpp
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ MAPNIK_DECL transform_list_ptr parse_transform(std::string const& str);
 MAPNIK_DECL transform_list_ptr parse_transform(std::string const& str,
                                                std::string const& encoding);
 
+MAPNIK_DECL bool parse_transform(transform_list& list,
+                                 std::string const& str);
+
 MAPNIK_DECL bool parse_transform(transform_list& list,
                                  std::string const& str,
                                  transform_expression_grammar_string const& g);
diff --git a/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar.hpp b/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar.hpp
index 886ffaa1f..fda73f7f0 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar.hpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ namespace mapnik {
     struct transform_expression_grammar
         : qi::grammar<Iterator, transform_list(), space_type>
     {
-        explicit transform_expression_grammar(expression_grammar<Iterator> const& g);
+        explicit transform_expression_grammar();
 
         typedef qi::rule<Iterator, transform_node(), space_type> node_rule;
         typedef qi::rule<Iterator, transform_list(), space_type> list_rule;
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ namespace mapnik {
         qi::rule<Iterator, transform_node(), space_type> rotate;
         qi::rule<Iterator, transform_node(), space_type> skewX;
         qi::rule<Iterator, transform_node(), space_type> skewY;
+        mapnik::expression_grammar<Iterator> g_;
     };
 
 } // namespace mapnik
diff --git a/include/mapnik/xml_attribute_cast.hpp b/include/mapnik/xml_attribute_cast.hpp
index d5d527972..227456195 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/xml_attribute_cast.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/xml_attribute_cast.hpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ struct do_xml_attribute_cast<mapnik::color>
 {
     static inline boost::optional<mapnik::color> xml_attribute_cast_impl(xml_tree const& tree, std::string const& source)
     {
-        return parse_color(source, tree.color_grammar);
+        return parse_color(source);
     }
 };
 
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ struct do_xml_attribute_cast<mapnik::expression_ptr>
         }
         else
         {
-            mapnik::expression_ptr expr = parse_expression(source, tree.expr_grammar);
+            mapnik::expression_ptr expr = parse_expression(source);
             tree.expr_cache_.insert(std::move(std::make_pair(source,expr)));
             return expr;
         }
diff --git a/include/mapnik/xml_tree.hpp b/include/mapnik/xml_tree.hpp
index 77c7034a6..29a1f02cb 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/xml_tree.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/xml_tree.hpp
@@ -26,20 +26,15 @@
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/xml_node.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/expression.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/expression_grammar.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/path_expression_grammar.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/transform_expression_grammar.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/image_filter_grammar.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/image_filter.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/css_color_grammar.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/unicode.hpp>
 
 //stl
 #include <string>
-
+#include <memory>
 
 namespace mapnik
 {
+
 class xml_tree
 {
 public:
@@ -54,11 +49,6 @@ private:
     transcoder tr_;
 public:
     mutable std::map<std::string,mapnik::expression_ptr> expr_cache_;
-    mapnik::css_color_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> color_grammar;
-    mapnik::expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> expr_grammar;
-    path_expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> path_expr_grammar;
-    transform_expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> transform_expr_grammar;
-    image_filter_grammar<std::string::const_iterator,std::vector<filter::filter_type> > image_filters_grammar;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
index 8fe770b6a..86d5d9847 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
     }
 
     mapnik::transcoder tr(desc_.get_encoding());
-    mapnik::wkt_parser parse_wkt;
-    mapnik::json::geometry_parser<std::string::const_iterator> parse_json;
+    //mapnik::wkt_parser parse_wkt;
+    //mapnik::json::geometry_parser<std::string::const_iterator> parse_json;
 
     // handle rare case of a single line of data and user-provided headers
     // where a lack of a newline will mean that std::getline returns false
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
                             break;
                         }
 
-                        if (parse_wkt.parse(value, feature->paths()))
+                        if (mapnik::from_wkt(value, feature->paths()))
                         {
                             parsed_wkt = true;
                         }
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
                         {
                             break;
                         }
-                        if (parse_json.parse(value.begin(),value.end(), feature->paths()))
+                        if (mapnik::json::from_geojson(value, feature->paths()))
                         {
                             parsed_json = true;
                         }
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
                     (value_length > 1 && !has_dot && value[0] == '0'))
                 {
                     matched = true;
-                    feature->put(fld_name,tr.transcode(value.c_str()));
+                    feature->put(fld_name,std::move(tr.transcode(value.c_str())));
                     if (feature_count == 1)
                     {
                         desc_.add_descriptor(mapnik::attribute_descriptor(fld_name,mapnik::String));
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
                 if (!matched)
                 {
                     // fallback to normal string
-                    feature->put(fld_name,tr.transcode(value.c_str()));
+                    feature->put(fld_name,std::move(tr.transcode(value.c_str())));
                     if (feature_count == 1)
                     {
                         desc_.add_descriptor(
diff --git a/src/color_factory.cpp b/src/color_factory.cpp
index f183ec3b6..b23e6be37 100644
--- a/src/color_factory.cpp
+++ b/src/color_factory.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ namespace mapnik {
 
 color parse_color(std::string const& str)
 {
-    css_color_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> g;
+    static css_color_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> g;
     return parse_color(str, g);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/expression.cpp b/src/expression.cpp
index 4d2008d5f..f32f9448e 100644
--- a/src/expression.cpp
+++ b/src/expression.cpp
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ namespace mapnik
 
 expression_ptr parse_expression(std::string const& str, std::string const& encoding)
 {
-    transcoder tr(encoding);
-    expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> g(tr);
+    static expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> g;
     return parse_expression(str, g);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/image_filter_types.cpp b/src/image_filter_types.cpp
index 27d968fce..201564dc6 100644
--- a/src/image_filter_types.cpp
+++ b/src/image_filter_types.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ bool parse_image_filters(std::string const& filters, std::vector<filter_type>& i
 {
     std::string::const_iterator itr = filters.begin();
     std::string::const_iterator end = filters.end();
-    mapnik::image_filter_grammar<std::string::const_iterator,
+    static mapnik::image_filter_grammar<std::string::const_iterator,
                                  std::vector<mapnik::filter::filter_type> > filter_grammar;
     boost::spirit::qi::ascii::space_type space;
     bool r = boost::spirit::qi::phrase_parse(itr,end,
diff --git a/src/json/geometry_parser.cpp b/src/json/geometry_parser.cpp
index 77fe45ab3..fbf9076c0 100644
--- a/src/json/geometry_parser.cpp
+++ b/src/json/geometry_parser.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ bool geometry_parser<Iterator>::parse(iterator_type first, iterator_type last, b
 
 bool from_geojson(std::string const& json, boost::ptr_vector<geometry_type> & paths)
 {
-    geometry_parser<std::string::const_iterator> parser;
+    static geometry_parser<std::string::const_iterator> parser;
     std::string::const_iterator start = json.begin();
     std::string::const_iterator end = json.end();
     return parser.parse(start, end ,paths);
diff --git a/src/load_map.cpp b/src/load_map.cpp
index a50b68c4b..0bf1f1dc1 100644
--- a/src/load_map.cpp
+++ b/src/load_map.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 #include <mapnik/image_filter_types.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/projection.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/group/group_rule.hpp>
-
+#include <mapnik/transform_expression.hpp>
 
 // boost
 #include <boost/optional.hpp>
@@ -467,18 +467,9 @@ void map_parser::parse_style(Map & map, xml_node const& sty)
         optional<std::string> filters = sty.get_opt_attr<std::string>("image-filters");
         if (filters)
         {
-            std::string::const_iterator itr = filters->begin();
-            std::string::const_iterator end = filters->end();
-            boost::spirit::qi::ascii::space_type space;
-            bool result = boost::spirit::qi::phrase_parse(itr,end,
-                                                          sty.get_tree().image_filters_grammar,
-                                                          space,
-                                                          style.image_filters());
-            if (!result || itr!=end)
-            {
-                throw config_error("failed to parse image-filters: '" + std::string(itr,end) + "'");
+            if (!parse_image_filters(*filters, style.image_filters())) {
+                throw config_error("failed to parse image-filters: '" + *filters + "'");
             }
-
         }
 
         // direct image filters (applied directly on main image buffer
@@ -488,16 +479,8 @@ void map_parser::parse_style(Map & map, xml_node const& sty)
         optional<std::string> direct_filters = sty.get_opt_attr<std::string>("direct-image-filters");
         if (direct_filters)
         {
-            std::string::const_iterator itr = direct_filters->begin();
-            std::string::const_iterator end = direct_filters->end();
-            boost::spirit::qi::ascii::space_type space;
-            bool result = boost::spirit::qi::phrase_parse(itr,end,
-                                                          sty.get_tree().image_filters_grammar,
-                                                          space,
-                                                          style.direct_image_filters());
-            if (!result || itr!=end)
-            {
-                throw config_error("failed to parse direct-image-filters: '" + std::string(itr,end) + "'");
+            if (!parse_image_filters(*direct_filters, style.direct_image_filters())) {
+                throw config_error("failed to parse direct-image-filters: '" + *direct_filters + "'");
             }
         }
 
@@ -926,7 +909,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_symbolizer_base(symbolizer_base &sym, xml_node const &pt)
     if (geometry_transform_wkt)
     {
         mapnik::transform_list_ptr tl = std::make_shared<mapnik::transform_list>();
-        if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *geometry_transform_wkt, pt.get_tree().transform_expr_grammar))
+        if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *geometry_transform_wkt))
         {
             std::string ss("Could not parse transform from '");
             ss += *geometry_transform_wkt + "', expected transform attribute";
@@ -989,12 +972,12 @@ void map_parser::parse_point_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const & sym)
             *file = ensure_relative_to_xml(file);
             std::string filename = *file;
             ensure_exists(filename);
-            put(symbol, keys::file, parse_path(filename, sym.get_tree().path_expr_grammar));
+            put(symbol, keys::file, parse_path(filename));
 
             if (image_transform_wkt)
             {
                 mapnik::transform_list_ptr tl = std::make_shared<mapnik::transform_list>();
-                if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *image_transform_wkt, sym.get_tree().transform_expr_grammar))
+                if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *image_transform_wkt))
                 {
                     throw mapnik::config_error("Failed to parse transform: '" + *image_transform_wkt + "'");
                 }
@@ -1058,7 +1041,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_markers_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const& sym)
         if (!filename.empty())
         {
             ensure_exists(filename);
-            put(symbol,keys::file, parse_path(filename, sym.get_tree().path_expr_grammar));
+            put(symbol,keys::file, parse_path(filename));
         }
 
         // overall opacity to be applied to all paths
@@ -1071,7 +1054,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_markers_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const& sym)
         if (image_transform_wkt)
         {
             mapnik::transform_list_ptr tl = std::make_shared<mapnik::transform_list>();
-            if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *image_transform_wkt, sym.get_tree().transform_expr_grammar))
+            if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *image_transform_wkt))
             {
                 throw mapnik::config_error("Failed to parse transform: '" + *image_transform_wkt + "'");
             }
@@ -1139,7 +1122,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_line_pattern_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const & sym
         file = ensure_relative_to_xml(file);
         ensure_exists(file);
         line_pattern_symbolizer symbol;
-        put(symbol, keys::file, parse_path(file, sym.get_tree().path_expr_grammar));
+        put(symbol, keys::file, parse_path(file));
 
         // offset value
         optional<double> offset = sym.get_opt_attr<double>("offset");
@@ -1181,7 +1164,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_polygon_pattern_symbolizer(rule & rule,
         file = ensure_relative_to_xml(file);
         ensure_exists(file);
         polygon_pattern_symbolizer symbol;
-        put(symbol, keys::file, parse_path(file, sym.get_tree().path_expr_grammar));
+        put(symbol, keys::file, parse_path(file));
 
         // pattern alignment
         optional<pattern_alignment_e> p_alignment = sym.get_opt_attr<pattern_alignment_e>("alignment");
@@ -1239,7 +1222,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_text_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const& sym)
         if (halo_transform_wkt)
         {
             mapnik::transform_list_ptr tl = std::make_shared<mapnik::transform_list>();
-            if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *halo_transform_wkt, sym.get_tree().transform_expr_grammar))
+            if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *halo_transform_wkt))
             {
                 throw mapnik::config_error("Failed to parse halo-transform: '" + *halo_transform_wkt + "'");
             }
@@ -1279,7 +1262,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_shield_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const& sym)
         if (image_transform_wkt)
         {
             mapnik::transform_list_ptr tl = std::make_shared<mapnik::transform_list>();
-            if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *image_transform_wkt, sym.get_tree().transform_expr_grammar))
+            if (!mapnik::parse_transform(*tl, *image_transform_wkt))
             {
                 throw mapnik::config_error("Failed to parse transform: '" + *image_transform_wkt + "'");
             }
@@ -1332,7 +1315,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_shield_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const& sym)
 
         file = ensure_relative_to_xml(file);
         ensure_exists(file);
-        put(shield_symbol, keys::file , parse_path(file, sym.get_tree().path_expr_grammar));
+        put(shield_symbol, keys::file , parse_path(file));
         parse_symbolizer_base(shield_symbol, sym);
         optional<halo_rasterizer_e> halo_rasterizer_ = sym.get_opt_attr<halo_rasterizer_e>("halo-rasterizer");
         if (halo_rasterizer_) put(shield_symbol, keys::halo_rasterizer, halo_rasterizer_enum(*halo_rasterizer_));
diff --git a/src/parse_path.cpp b/src/parse_path.cpp
index 26340988c..582ce4fab 100644
--- a/src/parse_path.cpp
+++ b/src/parse_path.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace mapnik {
 
 path_expression_ptr parse_path(std::string const& str)
 {
-    path_expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> g;
+    static path_expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> g;
     return parse_path(str,g);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/parse_transform.cpp b/src/parse_transform.cpp
index 314fef3c1..58fa617e6 100644
--- a/src/parse_transform.cpp
+++ b/src/parse_transform.cpp
@@ -36,10 +36,7 @@ transform_list_ptr parse_transform(std::string const& str)
 transform_list_ptr parse_transform(std::string const& str, std::string const& encoding)
 {
     transform_list_ptr tl = std::make_shared<transform_list>();
-    transcoder tc(encoding);
-    expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator> ge(tc);
-    transform_expression_grammar_string gte(ge);
-
+    static transform_expression_grammar_string gte;
     if (!parse_transform(*tl, str, gte))
     {
         tl.reset();
@@ -47,6 +44,13 @@ transform_list_ptr parse_transform(std::string const& str, std::string const& en
     return tl;
 }
 
+bool parse_transform(transform_list& tl,
+                     std::string const& str)
+{
+    static transform_expression_grammar_string gte;
+    return parse_transform(tl, str, gte);
+}
+
 bool parse_transform(transform_list& transform,
                      std::string const& str,
                      transform_expression_grammar_string const& g)
diff --git a/src/transform_expression_grammar.cpp b/src/transform_expression_grammar.cpp
index 3f4576077..97b26aa81 100644
--- a/src/transform_expression_grammar.cpp
+++ b/src/transform_expression_grammar.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace mapnik {
 namespace qi = boost::spirit::qi;
 
 template <typename Iterator>
-transform_expression_grammar<Iterator>::transform_expression_grammar(expression_grammar<Iterator> const& g)
+transform_expression_grammar<Iterator>::transform_expression_grammar()
         : transform_expression_grammar::base_type(start)
 {
     using boost::phoenix::construct;
@@ -123,8 +123,8 @@ transform_expression_grammar<Iterator>::transform_expression_grammar(expression_
     // expressions are separated by a comma.
     sep_expr = lit(',') >> expr [ _val = _1 ];
 
-    attr = g.attr.alias();
-    expr = g.expr.alias();
+    attr = g_.attr.alias();
+    expr = g_.expr.alias();
 }
 
 template struct mapnik::transform_expression_grammar<std::string::const_iterator>;
diff --git a/src/wkt/wkt_factory.cpp b/src/wkt/wkt_factory.cpp
index 89856ac2f..75368a893 100644
--- a/src/wkt/wkt_factory.cpp
+++ b/src/wkt/wkt_factory.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ bool wkt_parser::parse(std::string const& wkt, boost::ptr_vector<geometry_type>
 
 bool from_wkt(std::string const& wkt, boost::ptr_vector<geometry_type> & paths)
 {
-    wkt_parser parser;
+    static wkt_parser parser;
     return parser.parse(wkt,paths);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/xml_tree.cpp b/src/xml_tree.cpp
index 0d2d31d3a..7b46e6573 100644
--- a/src/xml_tree.cpp
+++ b/src/xml_tree.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 //mapnik
+#include <mapnik/std.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/xml_tree.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/xml_attribute_cast.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/conversions.hpp>
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@
 #include <mapnik/text/text_properties.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/config_error.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/raster_colorizer.hpp>
+
+#include <mapnik/expression.hpp>
+
 // stl
 #include <type_traits>
 
@@ -96,12 +100,7 @@ struct name_trait< mapnik::enumeration<ENUM, MAX> >
 xml_tree::xml_tree(std::string const& encoding)
     : node_(*this, "<root>"),
       file_(),
-      tr_(encoding),
-      color_grammar(),
-      expr_grammar(tr_),
-      path_expr_grammar(),
-      transform_expr_grammar(expr_grammar),
-      image_filters_grammar()
+      tr_(encoding)
 {
     node_.set_processed(true); //root node is always processed
 }