THE CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM would like to thank all those who wrote,
phoned or emailed us in support of our project to list all the toll houses
in England which are still standing. So little is known about these
relics of a distance past, which during their active life raised money from
often unwilling travellers to repair the roads and bridges which enabled
them to travel. The railways destroyed their purpose in the last quarter
of the 19th century and large numbers of them were demolished, especially
after WWII when road traffic really began to expand and road-widening
became necessary. Toll houses were built close to the edge of roads aand
their destruction became essential if roads were to carry the traffic that
they do today. But many still remain, sometimes forgotten except locally
and it is about these that we want to learn about, record and if possible
help to preserve. We have already restored and rebuilt the High Wycome
Toll House in our Museum at Chalfont St. Giles in Buckinghamshire. Our
data is available to all who are interested, though the project is in its
early stages.
If you can give us any information about existing toll houses, please
email, phone, write or fax to us.
Email [log in to unmask]
Mail Goreland Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks.
HP8 4AD
Fax 01494 872774
Phone 01494 728096 (in the evening, please, as
I am difficult to find in the 45 acres of the museum
grounds.)
John Wellsman
Chalfont Open Air Museum
19:14 25/11/99
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