THE TOLL HOUSE
There was once a Toll Cottage at the top of Crouch Hill - long since pulled down. It's not clear whether this is the house at Crouch Hill mentioned in the 1881 Census but - if it is (and there appear to be no other cottages in the vicinity), the occupants were 59-year old agricultural labourer Henry Simmons and his wife Cecilia. In 1841 the "Crouch Hill Toll Gate" was occupied by agricultural labourer Thomas Standen and his family, and also by blacksmith John Trower. The 1861 occupant, George Dear, was actually a Toll Gate Keeper aged 61, and lived there with his wife Mary Ann. In 1871, the same house seems to have been occupied by agricultural labourer and shepherd George Peirce. In 1901 the house was again occupied by Henry Simmons, the agricultural labourer - now aged 79 and his 82-year old wife, Cecilia.
The house stood on the left-hand side of the road as you drive to the top of Crouch Hill (pronounced "Crooch") - facing the right turn on to the Albourne Road - now named Wheatsheaf Road.
HOUSES 7
Toll House 1: A photograph from 1906.
Toll House 2: The Toll House in 1912. It was pulled down around 1920.
The house stood on the left-hand side of the road as you drive to the top of Crouch Hill (pronounced "Crooch") - facing the right turn on to the Albourne Road - now named Wheatsheaf Road.
HOUSES 7
Toll House 1: A photograph from 1906.
Toll House 2: The Toll House in 1912. It was pulled down around 1920.