The latest in the occasional series of history features by Susan Yates, chair of Thurrock Historical Society.

THEY say there is nothing new in this world and they are right. Recently I drove to Liverpool. 

My route took me via the M6 toll road which cost £10.30 each way, £20.60 in total. On reaching Merseyside I had to pay another £2.40 each way to use the Mersey crossing.  

Here in Thurrock every time we use the Dartford Crossing it is £2.50 each way, soon to be £3.50. 

It made me think of the toll roads that used to exist. 

The firm I worked for had a sports ground in Dulwich which utilised a toll road and the charge was 2d! The toll booth I think is still there with its list of charges but I have never seen anyone in it.

In the 19th century, Essex, like much of England, relied on a system of turnpike roads, also known as toll roads, to improve and maintain its transportation network. These roads were managed by Turnpike Trusts, which were established by Acts of Parliament to collect tolls from road users and use the revenue to maintain and improve the roads. 

The oldest toll road in Essex that I know of dated from 1695 ran from Shenfield to Harwich via Chelmsford and Colchester. 

The next oldest opened following an Act of Parliament in 1702 and ran between Woodford and Harlow and later Epping and Ongar.

As the East End of London opened up and developed a road became necessary to serve the north bank of the Thames. 

Run by the West Ham – Tilbury Fort Trust it ran from West Ham via East Ham, Barking and Wennington into Thurrock and opened in 1808.  

The first tollgate appears to have been at East Ham where the High Road meets the Barking Road. 

A second gate was at May's Bridge, Barking, where Ripple Road crossed the Mayes Brook. 

The third gate was roughly where, the A1306 (the old A13) crosses the Beam River. 

Three miles east of this toll gate was one of two situated at Wennington shown on the Ordnance Survey 1^st edition 1" map. This building was also shown on the Wennington Tithe map of 1839 and on the 25" Ordnance Survey map of 1897.

The next Toll Gate was on the A1306 (the old A13) between Sandy Lane and Purfleet Road, Aveley.

Like today the tolls varied from toll road to toll road but they were very interesting. 

The Newport Toll Road in North Essex had charges as follows:-

For every waggon or cart                             2d.

For every horse or mule                              1d.

For every oxen or cow                                1d.

For every drove of oxen or cows                 4d.

Sheep and pigs per score                             4d.

For every bull                                             4d.

There was one other toll road which ran into Thurrock from Hadleigh. 

Run by a local trust set up in 1793. The route terminated at Tilbury and had five toll gates in Thurrock located at Horndon, Orsett, Baker Street, Tilbury Marsh and Tilbury.

I wonder if when these roads opened if the public were told when they were paid for, they would be free!