Description

1126/0/10053
24-JUL-02

THE GORGE
Coalport Bridge Toll House

GV
II

Originated as warehouse 1793-1808, in use as house by 1815 and as tollhouse from 1818, when the adjacent Coalport Bridge (Scheduled Ancient Monument) underwent major repairs. The ownership of the tollhouse passed to Shropshire County Council in 1922, and it was restored to its present condition after it passed to the Buildings at Risk Trust in 1994. Brick with plain tile roofs and brick stacks. L-plan, with former tollhouse of 1818 facing road and former warehouse of 1793-1808 to rear with c1860 extension to its rear elevation.

Two-storey tollhouse presents single-storey elevation to road, with timber lintel over plank door to left of central axial stack and with square bay window to right. Segmental brick header arch over 6-pane timber casement to left-hand gable and timber lintel over plank door, formerly with gabled porch, to right-hand gable. The ground to the rear falls away steeply, there being a truncated stack and copper projection to rear right, adjacent to a single-storey mid C19 (pre-1856) wash house with central plank double doors: the latter is largely a rebuilding of 1994.
To the rear, facing the Severn, is a 2-unit range with central entry, originally the warehouse and built in English stretcher bond brick with dog-tooth eaves. 2 storeys, 2-window front. Segmental header arches over central plank door and flanking 2-light iron casements, each of 3 panes; that to left has been moved following the insertion of the stack to the rear of the tollhouse. Two similar first-floor casements, set under eaves and flanking fixed-pane 4-light casement. Right gable end of this range has segmental brick header arches over glazing bar sash and blocked ground-floor doorway, to the rear being a similar casement above an inserted doorway and a projecting later C19 (c1860) 2-storey wing with lateral stack and on the rear gable two glazing-bar timber casements, that to ground floor having panelled shutters adjoining glazed door.

INTERIOR: not inspected, but known to be largely a result of restoration work. Warehouse has retained timber truss and purlins, and there are some salvaged oak beams.

HISTORY: Its early development as a warehouse (although shortlived and associated with a low-key wharfage) is testament to the burgeoning nature of river traffic in this area of the Severn in the 18th century, and of the industrial activity and monuments that have contributed to the registration of the Ironbridge Gorge area as a World Heritage Site. It has been sensitively restored, and in its external form at least it comprises a fine example of a combined warehouse and tollhouse, prominently located next to Coalport Bridge in this World Heritage Site.

The Toll House, Coalport Bridge, Shropshire. An archaeological and historical report for English Heritage. July 1994. Buildings at Risk Trust.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26314633

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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