Bringing history to life, the Beeding Tollhouse - an icon of 19th century turnpikes

As part of the Museum's programme of conservation, the Toll House is part of a reimagined project, with restoration and a fresh interpretation work being carried out on the house itself and its garden. This historic building is therefore to be the focus of one of their special event weekends, Living History: Life in the Toll House on the 25 & 26 April. Over this weekend visitors will have the opportunity to discover the important role the Toll House played in the local community, as well as the daily lives of the people who lived and worked there. As part of the event, Lindsey and Georgina Ratcliffe from Tastes Through Time will be on site, offering demonstrations and insights into historic domestic life. From traditional crafts to everyday tasks, visitors can see first-hand what life might have been like in this fascinating building. "This immersive Living History experience offers a unique chance to engage with Britain's rural heritage and uncover the stories behind one of the Museum's intriguing historic homes," said Hannah Miller, Head of Interpretation & Collections at the Weald & Downland Living Museum. "It's a wonderful way for visitors to connect with the past in a hands-on, meaningful way." Visitors will also be able to see the progress in the project, as the Museum's Curator leads on the conservation work on the Toll House, and their Head Gardener leads on the planning and planting of the new garden. The history behind the building It had been dismantled and moved in 1968 after an accident in which a lorry caused severe damage to the structure. The Beeding Toll House is characteristic of toll cottages in the triangle between Worthing, Horsham and Shoreham, but is the last survivor of this type all the others have been demolished for road improvements. Toll houses were provided on turnpike roads in the 18th and 19th centuries for the collection of tolls from passing traffic, the money being used to maintain the road. The house from Beeding was built on a new road established in 1807. The project moving forward The reimagination project is underway, with work being carried out on the structure of the building, with some alterations to the surrounding area to help conserve the building. With some minor works being carried out on the footings of the building, the team will then move onto adding some additional features to the house which were not added in the original rebuild. An additional fireplace will be added to the bedroom, along with a freshen up throughout. "Our goal is to preserve the building's historic character while enhancing the visitor experience," said Julian Bell, Curator at the Museum "These small changes, like the new fireplace, allow us to tell a fuller story of life in the Toll House." In the garden the Museum's Head Gardener, Carlotta Holt, has been creating a new garden plan. Taller trees to the west now cast more shade than when originally planted, so the garden is being repositioned to allow better sunlight for the plants. Wider, accessible pathways are being added, and plantings are inspired by the types of vegetables and flowers that would have grown there in the 19th century. "We want the garden to be both historically accurate and enjoyable for visitors," said Carlotta. "By redesigning it with accessibility and light in mind, we can create a space that brings history to life while welcoming everyone to explore." Visitors are encouraged to come and take a look at the progress over the weekend of the 25 & 26 April, find out more about the project and learn how they are keeping rural history alive. The Museum is a fantastic day out for the whole family, with FREE parking, an onsite café, and a shop. Once you've paid for your admission ticket, everything is included. To find out more about the years programme of Living History events, and to pre-book the much sort after tickets, visit wealddown.co.uk.