Saturday, 31 March 2012

Tonbridge Tollgates

Three iron posts, in separate locations in Tonbridge, mark former tollgate sites in the town.
All the commemorative markers are identical, and were put in place by TUDC (Tonbridge Urban District Council). They are undated.

The first is situated outside the Public Library on the corner of The High Street and Avebury Avenue. It's hard to imagine a tollgate in this busy area of the town, but until the coming of the railway the southern part of Tonbridge, as we know it today, simply did not exist.



Outside the Public Library on The High Street

The second marker is on the corner of Hadlow Road and Mill Lane.  This was one of several tolls along this route and it was there until 1868.  There is an undated photograph of this location on
http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/photos/other-roads-and-streets/slides/15.Had2b.html


The final tollgate marker can be found on Shipbourne Road.  This one is very hard to spot as it sits behind railings and is slightly hidden by foliage.  The location is directly opposite the petrol station that is next to The Royal Oak pub.


Shipbourne Road tollgate marker

1 comment:

  1. While researching something on an old map of Tonbridge I noticed that the land behind the Shipbourne Road tollgate marker, opposite Shipbourne Road garage is called Cage Green. It is a large area extending in an 'L' shape to the left behind Dernier Road.
    In the 1841 census it was highly populated.

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