I've been looking at the Cheshire Image Bank site ( Image Bank ), and found a picture depicting the 'Toll Hut Site' in Bromborough. I grew up in Bromborough, but for the life of me I just can't place where the picture is taken. I't must be somewhere near the present day A41 (obviously prior to the by-pass) I guess, but know not where. Any help at all please?
The 1881 census has Mrs Hannah Grimes, a widow, 82 years of age, Toll gate keeper. At that age I can't see her having to walk to far to attend. Her address is Birkenhead & Chester Rd, closest properties to her are The Royal Oak, beer shop and Allport Lane.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Thanks Bert, that helps - it fits with the general location, but don't I don't know which direction to place it. Towards the location of the later police station, or towards Spital? I suppose finding where the toll boundaries where would be the ideal.
Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
That stretch of the a41 is just past the Royal Oak, also look at the building in the background on the old photie, the building on the map location resembles it a bit.
Look at the building detail, especially the white stonework and grooves around the side of the building(it's white in the old photie - new stonework), black and dirty in the new.
Turnpike trusts were bodies set up by individual acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal roads in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. At the peak, in the 1830s, over 1,000 trusts[1] administered around 30,000 miles (48,000 km) of turnpike road in England and Wales, taking tolls at almost 8,000 toll-gates and side-bars.[2]
Turnpike roads linking Chester with Eastham, Woodside, and Neston were built after 1787