There’s a toll bridge on the upper Thames near where I live which has operated since the 18th century and still charges the same toll – a Shilling (5p in New Money) – per car. (Originally it was per carriage.)
They basically shut down during Covid because of the risk of all those 5p pieces transferring infection. Now the attendance of an operator is sporadic.
Obviously the cost of the bridge was paid off at least 100 years ago, so maybe the “operators” I see sometimes at the weekend are an enterprising local lad collecting the 5p coins for his own benefit.
If so, I’m glad to contribute!
