Tollhouse

A tollhouse is a building where a toll collector resides and collects fees from travelers using a road, bridge, or canal. These structures were particularly common in the 18th and 19th centuries when turnpike trusts were established to maintain roads and charge users for their upkeep.

History

Tollhouses became prevalent during the Industrial Revolution as the need for improved transportation infrastructure grew. The concept of tolls dates back to ancient times, but the formal establishment of tollhouses was a response to the poor condition of roads in the 18th century. Turnpike trusts were authorized by acts of Parliament to build and maintain roads, and they funded these projects by charging tolls.

Architecture

Tollhouses were typically small, often one or two-room buildings, strategically located at the entrance of a toll road or bridge. They were designed to be functional, providing shelter for the toll collector and a place to store toll records and money. The architectural style of tollhouses varied, but they often featured distinctive elements such as bay windows or projecting porches to allow the toll collector to see approaching traffic.

Burke Toll House

Function

The primary function of a tollhouse was to collect tolls from travelers. The toll collector, sometimes referred to as a "tollkeeper," would assess the fee based on the type of vehicle, the number of animals, or the weight of goods being transported. Toll rates were usually displayed on a board outside the tollhouse.

Decline

The use of tollhouses declined with the advent of modern transportation infrastructure and the abolition of turnpike trusts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many tollhouses were demolished, repurposed, or preserved as historical landmarks.

Bratch Toll House

Preservation

Some tollhouses have been preserved as part of cultural heritage projects. They serve as reminders of the historical development of transportation and infrastructure. In some regions, tollhouses have been converted into museums or visitor centers.

Examples

- Northgate Toll House - Burke Toll House - Bratch Toll House - Smethwick Toll House

Smethwick Toll House

Also see

• Turnpike road
• Turnpike trust
• Road transport history
• Toll road
• Infrastructure history