Shoreham Tollbridge

Shoreham Tollbridge
The bridge from the east bank at Old Shoreham Road
Coordinates	50°50′26.2″N 0°17′18.2″W / 50.840611°N 0.288389°W / 50.840611; -0.288389
Crosses	River Adur
Locale	Shoreham and Lancing, West Sussex
History
Opened	1782
Closed	1970
Location

Shoreham Tollbridge is a bridge crossing the River Adur in West Sussex, England. It is the last of its kind in Sussex and one of the last of its kind anywhere in the world.^{[clarification needed]}

The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the construction of a great many structures in England. Canals, harbour schemes, railways, roads and bridges were all built. What is now known as the Old Shoreham Tollbridge was built during this period over the River Adur between Shoreham and Lancing. Before the building of the bridge in 1781–2, the Adur presented the one major obstacle to east–west communication along the coastal plain of Southern England. The choices open to the traveller wishing to cross the Adur were to travel miles out of the way and use the bridge at

authorising the construction of the bridge.

Old Shoreham Bridge Act 1781

Act of Parliament
21 Geo. 3. c. 35
Dates
Royal assent	18 May 1781

The construction of Old Shoreham Tollbridge was authorised by Act of Parliament;

. c. 35, in 1781. The act established a body of trustees to construct 'a proper and substantial Bridge, for the Passage of Carriages... over the said River, at or near the said Ferry'. The new wooden bridge was ten months in the making and first opened to public traffic in March 1782.

From the beginning, the bridge was to be financially self-supporting. Money was to be raised in two ways. Firstly by the issue of fifty share units held on a life annuity basis, by which £5,000 was raised by thirty-six subscribers. Secondly by the imposition of a toll on all foot passengers and animal and vehicular traffic using the bridge. The early tolls were:

For every Coach, Chariot, Chaise, Hearse, or other such like Carriage, with four Wheels, One Shilling; and for every Horse or other Beast drawing the same, Sixpence:

For every Chaise, Chair, or other such like Carriage, with Two Wheels, Sixpence; and for every Horse or other Beast drawing the same, Sixpence:

For every Wagon or Wain, One Shilling; and for every Horse or other Beast drawing the same, Threepence:

For every Cart, Ninepence; and for every Horse or other Beast drawing the same Threepence:

For every

Ass

, laden or unladen, and not drawing, Threepence:

For every score of

Cows

, or Neat Cattle, One Shilling and Eightpence:and so in Proportion for any less Number:

For every Score of Calves, Hogs, Sheep or Lambs, Tenpence; and so in Proportion for any less Number:

And for every Foot Passenger, One Halfpenny

The bridge remained in private trusteeship for the first eighty years. The bridge was then taken over by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company on the opening of the Steyning Line from Shoreham to Horsham in 1861. The bridge was completely rebuilt by the company during the

in the January–February 1946 issue said "It may be remarked here that the Shoreham-Horsham branch crosses the highway on the level at the Old Shoreham end of the wooden bridge, where a block signal box is provided. The signalmen, in addition to attending to the level-crossing gates, collect the tolls from vehicles crossing this old wooden bridge."

The

Grade II* listed building

and is preserved as a building of historic interest.

Present day

During 2008 the bridge underwent a major refurbishment with the aim of extending its life for a further 30 years. The bridge has now been designated a

] and is a popular local landmark used by both leisure and commuter traffic on foot, bicycle and horseback. It is also a popular spot for local fishermen. The refurbishment completely replaced the pilehead crossbeams, deck support longitudinal beams and handrails with selective replacement and reinforcement of components of each of the 27 pile bents. The project was managed and partly funded by West Sussex County Council. The rest of the funding came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, landfill tax credits and the Old Shoreham Tollbridge Community Trust.

The bridge was listed at Grade II* by English Heritage on 12 October 1954.^[1] Such buildings are defined as being "particularly important ... [and] of more than special interest".^[2] As of February 2001, it was one of six Grade II* listed buildings, and 119 listed buildings of all grades, in Adur district.^[3]

External links

• Story of Shoreham by Mr Henry Cheal
• Former Toll Bridge across the River Adur at Shoreham-by-Sea
• Adur District Council - Old Tollbridge
• Adur District Council - The River Adur
• West Sussex County Council - Old Shoreham Tollbridge
• West Sussex County Council Records Office
• General Tollbridge information