Toll house

A former toll house, the angled windows on the gable end (there is another out of sight on the left) were to give the toll keeper a view of traffic coming in both directions - in and out of Fraserburgh along the main road or 'turnpike'. The Aberdeenshire Turnpike Act of 1795 enabled landowners to form local TurnpikeTrusts. They were formed to build roads which were to be constructed and maintained to a reasonable standard. Tolls were levied to pay for their construction and upkeep. Outside the Toll House a barrier with counterbalanced bar, (the turnpike) was raised and lowered to allow travellers to pass once they had paid the appropriate fee. Toll Houses were built every 6 miles or so. Only journeys of less than 200 yards were exempt from tolls as were hearses and pedestrian mourners. Cattle were charged by the score and carts which passed through a toll loaded were usually exempt on the return journey if they were empty. The mail coach passed through unhindered but paid an annual fee. The mail coach guard sounded a horn to warn the toll keeper of the approach of the coach. All Aberdeenshire toll bars were removed in 1866 by which time the railway had drastically reduced the volume of freight on the roads.