Tollgate House aka Monmouth Toll House

Cadw's description

Location

Midway between Monmouth and Mitchel Troy, on border with Monmouth Community. Prominently sited at the Y-junction of B4293 and the by-road to Mitchel Troy.

History

The tollhouse in its present form is probably c.1810 when the Monmouth to Raglan turnpike road was greatly improved and in parts newly laid; the Act of Parliament is dated 18 May 1810. Said to have ceased use c.1870.

Attributed to Jeffry Wyatt, later known as Sir Jeffry Wyatville (1766-1840) who was renowned for his work rebuilding and restoring Windsor Castle for monarch George IV in 1823-1830, which earned him the title “Architect to the King."

Exterior

As a toll-house this is distinctive for being 2-storeys and for its design which makes use of the site through the inclusion of deep, diagonally set and gabled bays to the north and east corners; similar bay to west side. In plan it is otherwise basically square with extension to south. Stone built with whitewashed rendered elevations and Cumberland slate roof, graduated on the front (N) elevation; cement rendered chimney to rear. Square headed casement windows, 3-light to main gabled bays (that at ground floor of the E bay plain glazed at time of survey in 2000); narrower windows to the western bay which retains Neo-Tudor dripmoulds. Depressed blank arch to west (right hand side) where the former tollgate was. In the centre of the NE elevation a 2-centred arched former doorway is now converted to a window, the bottom half blocked and the upper plain glazed. Main entrance now in E elevation, where there is a lean-to extension with a panelled door and a small canted bay window. Modern flat-roofed extension to rear of this.

Interior

Not inspected.

Reason for designation

Listed for special architectural interest as an especially good example of this building type, and historic interest as an early C19 tollhouse by a noted architect.