The Toll House
Prior to the construction of the Swallwell Bridge to Shotley Bridge Turnpike road in 1835, there had been no road at all up the Derwent Valley, turnpike roads being constructed by trusts set up by Acts of Parliament which also maintained the roads and recouped part of the cost by charging for their use by vehicles, animals and people.
The going rates during the half century the toll was charged varied from a halfpenny for a pedestrian to two shillings for a coach and six horses.
When the toll was removed in 1888, the toll house became the private residence of the Robinsons, Mr. Robinson being the council roadman who also held the key for a hut on the roadside next to the station houses which housed a reel of hose for people to fight their own house fires. Miss Robson of the toll house was a post woman who also collected 'doctor's money' every week.
The tollhouse was demolished around 1930. (Source: Rowlands Gill Facebook page)
c.1914 - View of the toll house with .the buildings behind it then newly built..
The crowd of miners waiting at the top of the bank ...evidences that this was not an ordinary working day. The men are assembling to travel to Durham for the Annual Miners Gala. From the way they are grouped it appears that they are going in char-à-bancs, one of which stands to the left of the toll house almost obscured by the hedge. (SOURCE: Rowlands Gill in Old Picture Postcards N. G. Rippeth)