Valley of the Tolls

On the drive to York from Hull on the A1079 you come across the road sign for Kexby. 

After concentrating on the 40mph speed restriction, a bend to the left and then remarking at how big that Residential Care Home now is you are out and through with very little else to recount about the place. 

There is naturally a lot more by way of history and stories. 

The A1079 through Kexby as existing is a modern concession to cope with the high traffic volumes and includes a wide, flat bridge span over the River Derwent which is both a beautiful watercourse through Yorkshire and a major flood threat. 

It replaced and left stranded on a no-through road the wonderful 1650 built Kexby Bridge. 

Commissioned for Sir Roger Jaques Treseur who was Knighted by Charles the First and also held the office of Lord Mayor of York its narrow carriageway could not cope with motor traffic and there were frequent collisions and bumps.

In 1939 the Council refused to fund a widening scheme which would, anyway have been impractical to retain any of the later Grade II* Listed features of ashlar and red brick masonry, pointed cut waters and four course parapet. 

The road leading to the bridge from the eastern approach operated for many years with a Toll payable. 

On a regular basis the income from the Tolls was auctioned off to the highest bidder, one such sale being held at the Tiger Inn in Beverley in September 1822 when the stated annual collected amount was £221 (just under £20000 at current value).

In 1881 the local press advertised the sale of all of the Toll Buildings along the Hull to York road including Kexby marking the end of that particular method of funding highway maintenance. 

The Kexby Bridge Toll House, at some time occupied as a pair of houses under the addresses 1 and 2 Bridge Cottages is on the same eastern approach. 

I have always made a point of glancing at it whilst passing through even under the aforementioned requirements for safe motoring as it has some charm and character. The tone of brickwork in Georgian hand made thins is pleasing along with the sash windows and pantile roof and as to be remarked about that era of housing everything is in perfect proportion. 

Sidelined however along with the bridge the old road became a bit derelict and sometimes taken up by what looked like a collection of abandoned vehicles. 

You can therefore imagine the shock of seeing the old house as a partly burnt out shell with the roof gone. This was as a consequence of a fire in an upstairs room late one night in July this year. 

Fortunately no one was in residence at the time. 

The property is now being advertised for sale as a bit of a do-er upper. It will have some good stories to tell.