Bridge Toll House, Axmouth, Devon

A toll bridge until 1907, the little toll house still remains and is on the Seaton side of the river near to the Boat House (the former Devon Dive building) - although that stretch just this side of the bridge is actually part of Axmouth village - and is now a residential house called Bridge Cottage. 

Oddly enough, this isn't a listed building even though it's a historical building with lovely and quirky architecture. Built in 1877, as part of the toll bridge which replaced the ferry crossing, it was eventually made redundant when tolls were no longer needed. 

The Lord of the Manor at that time was S. Sanders Stephens. He paid £2,200 towards the sum of £5,000 raised to free the bridge from tolls. Interestingly, Mr Stephens owned the company Stephens Ink and lived at the nearby William and Mary style house, Stedcombe Manor...known by locals as 'The Inkpot', both because of the shape of the house and the ink association.

This is one of the Blue Plaque buildings in Seaton, which can also be seen in my article about them here. I had a walk down to take some new photos and was seen by one of the family living in the house and he asked why I was taking photos. As it happened I used to know the chap, although I hadn't seen him for a good twenty years or so, and we had a chat after he'd realised who I am and that I wasn't up to no good! ;) 

A view of the harbour from the toll house, above.

A hedge runs from the toll house to the start of the bridge, which is inhabited by lots of lovely sparrows. I tried to take a photo of them but they vamooshed over the hedge so quickly that I couldn't even get a shot of them taking off.

And lastly, another photo of the harbour from the left side.