Voters to step back in time at Ironbridge’s Tollhouse
Voters in the historic town of Ironbridge will step back in time when they go to the polls on Thursday.
The Tollhouse, which collected money from people crossing the Severn using the world famous Iron Bridge for almost two centuries, will open its doors as a polling station later this week.
The small tollhouse at the entrance to the bridge must be one of the country’s most unusual polling stations with its walls still bearing the centuries old tariffs for crossing the bridge.
The Tollhouse is now part of The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust that operates the ten museums and protects many of the historic monuments within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site. It was built to serve the millions who since 1779 have come to cross or just marvel at the world's first cast-iron bridge.
The bridge and tollhouse were built by Abraham Darby III and are recognised as one of the great symbols of the Industrial Revolution, spanning the Severn and dominating the small town that bears its name.
It was first used as a polling station five years ago for the 2010 General Election. Ironbridge is in the parliamentary constituency of Telford.
Returning officer Richard Partington said: “It’s great to see the Tollhouse being used again to collect votes, after nearly 200 years of collecting tolls.
“We’re really grateful to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust for their support and letting us use the Tollhouse.”
