Gwalchmai Tollhouse

Cadw's description

Location

Located at the NE side of the A5(T) Holyhead Road on the approach to the village of Gwalchmai, c. 850m E of the church of St. Morhaiarn.

History

Following the Act of Union in 1801 a programme to improve the roads between the two capital cities of London and Dublin was initiated. In 1811 Thomas Telford was commissioned to undertake a survey of the roads between London and Holyhead and in 1817 began work on the northern stretch of the road at Shrewsbury. Work started on Anglesey in 1818 and 5 tollhouses, designed by Telford, were built across the island. In 1844 a law was passed abolishing tolls from Holyhead to Shrewsbury but an exemption was made of the tollhouses of Anglesey where charges were actually increased and proved adequate for the maintenance of the roads for several years. In 1895 the exemption ended and on 28th November the tollhouses were sold.

Exterior

Octagonal 2-storey toll house forming a symmetrical composition with single storey wings to NE and SE. Coursed masonry, 1st floor rendered. Slate roof with projecting eaves; wings have roofs of old small slates, heavily grouted. Central stack to octagon with gable end stacks to each wing; each with rendered caps. Windows are slightly recessed with modern casements; upper storey of octagon with blind recesses in all faces other than directly over the doorway (facing W).

Reason for designation

Listed as one of a series of tollhouses designed for the Holyhead Road by Thomas Telford, retaining its original form (notwithstanding alterations to detail).