PhotoScoot 2014: Timber Yard, Heol Y Doll, Machynlleth

Description

The pavement narrows again to pass the former timber yard flanked by two stone-built blocks of warehousing/workshops. Most recently the yard was the premises of Travis Perkins, who have moved to Treowain Industrial Estate. It was then proposed for a Tesco’s supermarket development which has not taken place.

Despite its current derelict state, the old timber yard still has an interesting place in Machynlleth history - affixed to the wall was once a stone slab presenting a list of tolls.

The town is in the manor of Cyfeilog - Sir Watkins Willians Wynn was the Lord of the Manor at the time of the compilation of the Machynlleth Borough Guide. Certain tolls for passing through the town by road were formerly levied by the Lord of the Manor and a list of these was inscribed on slate slabs located on each of the three roads converging on the centre of town: Heol Y Doll, near the Timber Yard; Heol Maengwyn, in the wall of the Old Parliament House; and Heol Pentrerhydyn, in the wall of Plas Villa.

The inscription read as follows:
‘Town Burgh and Liberty of Machynlleth being in the manor of Cyfeilog and County of Montgomery. A Table of ancient tolls and other dues payable to the Lord of the said Manor. For every wagon load of every description of goods going out or through the town, 6d; for every cart load of such goods, 4d; for every horse load of such goods, 1d; for every head of cattle passing through the town in every drove, 1d; for every pig purchased within the town, 2d; for every horse, mare or gelding in each drove passing through the town, 2d; for every horse purchased within the town, 6d; for every score of sheep passing through the town, 4d.
At fairs: - for every horse, mare or gelding sold, 6d by the seller, and by the buyer 1s, 6d; for every head of horned cattle, except bulls, cows and calves, 2d; for every bull, 2s 6d; for every cow and calf, 6d; for every pig, 2d; for every score of sheep 6d.’

On 28th March 1885, a last sum of £100 was collected by subscription by the townsfolk to be paid to the Lord of the Manor to mark the end of toll collection.