Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Toll house at Conwy Suspension Bridge
Conwy, Conwy, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Recreational
- Date of designation
- 8 October 1981
- Locality
- Afon Conwy
- Town
- Conwy
- Community
- Conwy
- Unitary authority
- Conwy
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.28097, -3.82242
- Cadw reference
- 3235
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Cadw's description
Location
On the E side of Conwy Suspension Bridge.
History
Conwy suspension bridge was built 1822-6 on the Chester to Holyhead Road. Its engineer was Thomas Telford who probably also designed the contemporary adjacent lodge. According to Samuel Lewis, it was in 1833 a lodge for the bridge surveyor (there was a toll house on the town side of the bridge) but it was a toll house by 1891, when the road was part of the public highway but a toll was still payable to cross the bridge. Its function ceased when the new Conway Bridge opened in 1958 and since 1965 has been owned by The National Trust.
Exterior
A castellated single-storey toll house of ashlar on a slightly battered base, and a cruciform plan comprising higher central bay and lower outer bays. Each has hipped slate roof behind embattled parapet, and higher round corner turrets with blind loops and battlements. The entrance is in the central bay, a Tudor-headed door with vertical ribs, studs and strap hinges. It is flanked by narrow leaded windows. Above it is a renewed frieze of octagons. A central blind upper opening has a renewed painted toll board, flanked by blind loops. Outer bays and end walls have Tudor-headed windows with diamond-leaded glazing. The rear has a similar window in the central bay, and similar openings to blind windows in the outer bays. The central bay also has a frieze matching the font.
Interior
The central bay is 2 rooms deep. Rooms have late C19 fireplaces.
Reason for designation
Listed grade II* as an early C19 well-preserved and well-designed lodge, and for group value with Conwy Suspension Bridge.
Nearby in the register
- Island Quay (Cei Ynys)No class recordedunder 1 mi
- Conwy Suspension BridgeTransportunder 1 mi
- Tubular Railway BridgeTransportunder 1 mi
- The QuayMaritimeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.