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Description
The tollhouse referred to in the Machynlleth Borough Guide has been demolished to allow for road widening.
There is an historic view of this corner already available on the People's Collection Wales website. The view, from the first floor window of the Bro Dyfi Community Hospital, shows the former toll house:
http://www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk/items/32872
Sometime in the 18th century, the concern amongst townspeople about the state of the roads caused a turnpike system to be established, financed by borrowed money and paid for by tolls levied on the road users. Tolls houses and gates were erected here on the corner of Forge Road, at the eastern end of Maengwyn Street; also near the former Lledfair mansion on the Aberystwyth Road, and at the Dovey Bridge, and at Ffridd gate. The Turnpike Trusts continued to improve the roads, but became extremely unpopular in the 1840s, being the cause of the famous Rebecca riots.
Follow this link on the People's Collection Wales www site to find out more about the Riots:
http://www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk/content/rebecca-riots
Machynlleth's turnpike gates and the need for the toll houses disappeared on 12 May 1882, when a local Highway Board became responsible for the management and improvements of roads.
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