This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

Back to Search page

Swinford Toll Bridge and House, Eynsham

A functioning river Thames toll bridge and house Grade II listed.
Region:
Oxfordshire
Red Wheel Site:
No
Transport Mode(s):
Road
Address:
Oxford Road, Eynsham, OX29 4DA.
Postcode:
OX29 4DA
Visitor Centre:
No
Website:

About Swinford Toll Bridge and House, Eynsham

Swinford Toll Bridge is a privately owned toll bridge south of Eynsham, which crosses the River Thames just above Eynsham Lock.

The bridge, constructed in local stone in the Georgian style, was opened in 1769. It replaced a pre-existing ferry and its construction was funded by the Earl of Abingdon. The bridge is governed by its own Act of Parliament. It allows the bridge owner to collect tolls and makes the building of bridges across the river illegal for three miles either way up or down stream from Swinford. By repute, the owners do not pay tax on the revenue from the tolls as a perquisite from King George III. It is one of the two remaining toll bridges which cross the Thames upstream from London, the other being Whitchurch Bridge.

Bridge Toll House is still in use at Swinford Bridge. The principal structure is thought to have been built for the Bridge Company Turnpike Trust in 1767. It is in the form of a lodge cottage with protruding front. It is still the toll keeper's house property and retains the tollhouse features almost unaltered.

Its external features consist of two-storeys on an L - shaped floor plan. It has a hipped roof with stone tiles, walls mainly of squared stone, square headed windows with casements, a canted bay window and wooden porch, and a square headed doorway.

It is on two levels beside the bridge on the Oxfordshire bank. It is Grade II listed.

By road: On the B4044 between Eynsham and Farmoor.

Addison, Sir William. The Old Roads of England ISBN 0 7134 1714 5 (1980)

Albert, W. The Turnpike Road System in England 1663- 1840. Camb. Univ. Press. ISBN O 5210 3391 8 (1972)

An Act for building a Bridge across the River Thames, from Swinford, in the County of Berks, to Eynsham, in the County of Oxford, 7 George III, c. 63. dated 1767 (Ref No HL/PO/PU/1/1767/7G3n22).

Harrison, David. The Bridges of Medieval England. Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-922685-6 (2004)

Hindle, P. Roads and Tracks for Historians. ISBN 1 86077 182 3 (2001)

Hindley, G. History of the Roads. Peter Davies. ISBN 0 8065 0290 8 (1971)

Jackson, Gibbard. From Track to Highway. (1935)

Jervoise, E. Ancient Bridges of England. Architectural Press. (1932)

Sheldon, G. From Trackway to Turnpike. Oxfd. Univ. Press. (1928)

Taylor, C. Roads and Tracks of Britain. ISBN 0 460 04329 3 (1979)

Thacker, Fred.S. The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs (1920 )- republished 1968 David & Charles

National Transport Trust, Old Bank House, 26 Station Approach, Hinchley Wood, Esher, Surrey KT10 0SR