Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

The 'Toll Gate'

There has always been an interest and many stories surrounding the operation and removal of a gate at the Goldhanger Road end of Basin Road.

The facts that we know are it was opened as a public road under the enclosures act of the 7th of December in1815. There were problems after the owners of the Salt Works tried claiming tolls for access, but this appears to have been short lived as it was sorted by force by the public at large, and later by a court order against the owners of the Salt Company and the cottage being used as a toll-house.

(above) a recent picture of the very short lived old Toll Gate Cottage

.