Latitude: 53.281 / 53°16'51"N
Longitude: -3.8224 / 3°49'20"W
OS Eastings: 278592
OS Northings: 377549
OS Grid: SH785775
Mapcode National: GBR 1ZRH.8L
Mapcode Global: WH654.8S1L
Plus Code: 9C5R75JH+92
Entry Name: Toll house at Conwy Suspension Bridge
Listing Date: 8 October 1981
Last Amended: 5 May 2006
Grade: II*
Source: Cadw
Source ID: 3235
Building Class: Recreational
ID on this website: 300003235
Location: On the E side of Conwy Suspension Bridge.
County: Conwy
Town: Conwy
Community: Conwy
Community: Conwy
Locality: Afon Conwy
Built-Up Area: Conwy
Traditional County: Caernarfonshire
Tagged with: Tollhouse
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.
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.
The central bay is 2 rooms deep. Rooms have late C19 fireplaces.
Listed grade II* as an early C19 well-preserved and well-designed lodge, and for group value with Conwy Suspension Bridge.
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