The former toll house St Mary Street

The road from Nether Stowey to Bridgwater was turnpiked in 1759 making the village more accessible to people like Coleridge. The road through Nether Stowey to the west and ultimately Minehead was turnpiked by the Minehead trust in 1765. Where the two trusts met this toll house was built.

The improved roads must have benefited travellers, the market at Nether Stowey and especially businesses like Tom Poole’s tannery, which needed to move several tons of hides and oak bark regularly.

The toll house survived the end of the turnpike system and is now used as holiday accommodation