Watch: Shrewsbury's Kingsland Bridge looking for new toll keeper
It is a job with a long history – and now a new toll keeper is being sought for one of Shrewsbury's historic bridges.
The custodians of Kingsland Bridge, which links the town centre and Town Walls with Kingsland and Canonbury, are hoping to find a part-time toll keeper willing to take on the task of ensuring the smooth running of the bridge.
James Hodgson, director and secretary of the Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge Company, said: "We are looking for a part-time toll keeper to work on the bridge, primarily on Friday and Saturdays but also to help out when the full-time toll keeper, John Shaw, is on holiday."
Built in 1881 by the Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge Company following an act of Parliament, the bridge was designed by Henry Robertson MP, an engineer who carried out railway construction, and opened in 1882.
It has a single span of 212 feet, and in the first year of opening the bridge carried 2,972 four-wheeled carriages, 3,322 two-wheeled carriages, 203 horses and 101,431 foot passengers.
Known locally as the Penny Bridge, the toll for users was one old penny (1d).
In the 1970s and after metrification, permission was granted from the Department of Transport to raise the toll to ½p and then to 1p.
The Kingsland Bridge Company was granted an increase in 2011 to 20p.
To apply for the post should contact Mr Hodgson on 01743 353569.
