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Ashcombe Toll House This unusual Grade II listed round building on the south of the A27 Lewes to Brighton Road, near Kingston. is a reminder of the former turnpike system of road provision and maintenance, supported by tolls payable by the road user. It was constructed about 1820 at the eastern end of the Lewes - Brighton turnpike. It went out of use about 1871 when the Turnpike Trust was wound up There was formerly a twin building on the other side of the much narrower
turnpike, the other one probably the actual toll keepers refuge. Inside the remaining structure is a fireplace and there were windows which were blocked by the county council at the same time as they put iron strapping around it. This repair work was done despite ambiguity over ownership, this has been resolved by the Sussex Heritage Trust who laid legal claim to it over twelve years ago, it is now their property no-one coming forward to contest it Research undertaken by the trust and others, indicates that the remaining building was probably used as a Turnpike ‘lengthsmans’ hut The roof was formerly a tidy hemisphere, the specially shaped bricks having been 'robbed' after this picture was taken.:-
There is an article and detailed drawing in Sussex
Industrial History No. 13 1983. |
Updated
09 November 2008 |
