High Wycombe Toll House
This three-roomed house was built in 1826 for the collector of tolls at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on the Oxford to London road.
Constructed of locally-made bricks, it has a slate roof and a central chimney stack. Its "Gothick' features include pointed arches over the windows and door, and the castellations on the top of the walls. Above the door is the clock, installed in 1826. The front room is angled to give the toll keeper maximum visibility up and down the roud.
Despite its small size the house was occupied by a family of five in 1841. It has been furnished as it may have been in the 1860s when it was last used for collecting tolls.
Toll keepers were very unpopular and there are many reports of keepers being strapped to their gate while robbers ransacked the house. The High Wycombe Toll House is secured with iron bars on the windows and folding shutters. The building was dismantled by volunteers in 1977-78, and re-erected at Chiltern Open Air Museum between 1983 and 1991 by Lovell Construction and Taylor Woodrow apprentices, and by volunteers.
The Toll Gates are reproductions based on local examples, and made of softwood with oak posts. The milestone erected by the side of the road near the Toll House was originally on the Hatfield to Reading Turnpike. The inscription reads: 29 READING, HATFIELD 21; R WORTH 5; AMERSHAM 3.
The Chiltern Open Air Museum (COAM), nestled in the heart of Buckinghamshire, offers a unique glimpse into the rural life of the Chilterns. This museum is not just a collection of static exhibits; it's a dynamic space where history is brought to life. Visitors can explore over 30 reconstructed historic buildings, each telling a story from a different era, from Iron Age roundhouses to a 1940s prefab. The museum also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as living history days, craft demonstrations, and seasonal festivals, providing an immersive experience for all ages. With its extensive site covering 18 hectares, including a working historic farm and traditional gardens, the museum provides a rich educational experience as well as a peaceful retreat into nature.
www.coam.org.uk/buildings/highwycombetollhouse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiltern_Open_Air_Museum
High Wycombe Toll House
This three-roomed house was built in 1826 for the collector of tolls at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on the Oxford to London road.
Constructed of locally-made bricks, it has a slate roof and a central chimney stack. Its "Gothick' features include pointed arches over the windows and door, and the castellations on the top of the walls. Above the door is the clock, installed in 1826. The front room is angled to give the toll keeper maximum visibility up and down the roud.
Despite its small size the house was occupied by a family of five in 1841. It has been furnished as it may have been in the 1860s when it was last used for collecting tolls.
Toll keepers were very unpopular and there are many reports of keepers being strapped to their gate while robbers ransacked the house. The High Wycombe Toll House is secured with iron bars on the windows and folding shutters. The building was dismantled by volunteers in 1977-78, and re-erected at Chiltern Open Air Museum between 1983 and 1991 by Lovell Construction and Taylor Woodrow apprentices, and by volunteers.
The Toll Gates are reproductions based on local examples, and made of softwood with oak posts. The milestone erected by the side of the road near the Toll House was originally on the Hatfield to Reading Turnpike. The inscription reads: 29 READING, HATFIELD 21; R WORTH 5; AMERSHAM 3.
The Chiltern Open Air Museum (COAM), nestled in the heart of Buckinghamshire, offers a unique glimpse into the rural life of the Chilterns. This museum is not just a collection of static exhibits; it's a dynamic space where history is brought to life. Visitors can explore over 30 reconstructed historic buildings, each telling a story from a different era, from Iron Age roundhouses to a 1940s prefab. The museum also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as living history days, craft demonstrations, and seasonal festivals, providing an immersive experience for all ages. With its extensive site covering 18 hectares, including a working historic farm and traditional gardens, the museum provides a rich educational experience as well as a peaceful retreat into nature.
www.coam.org.uk/buildings/highwycombetollhouse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiltern_Open_Air_Museum