The Toll Gates of Dublin

A few days since (writes a correspondent) I chanced to come across an interesting relic of olden times in the shape of a sheet…

A few days since (writes a correspondent) I chanced to come across an interesting relic of olden times in the shape of a sheet displaying the charges levied on various commodities passing through the toll-gates of Dublin. The tolls appear to have been quite moderate, though, no doubt, those paying them may have thought them heavy enough. They usually ranged from the contemptible farthing to threepence.

The toll on a sack of potatoes was 1/2d., and on a hogshead of wine 3d. To bring a tub of butter through the toll-bar involved a charge of 1d., and if it was a crock of 10lb. or upwards the charge was 2d. A sheep was admitted for a farthing, and a lamb, goat or kid could not be got in for less. The toll for a kish of Kilkenny coal was 1d. - the "kish", it may be explained, was a large wicker basket used for this and other purposes.

A cart-load of apples or other fruit was charged 2d., and a cart-load of cheese had to pay toll to the amount of 3d. Turnpikes on public highways were often unduly numerous - occurring usually every six or seven miles - and were primarily intended for the maintenance and repair of the roads, but in Ireland they were not a commercial success and were abolished by Act in 1857. A great part of the revenue of the city must have been derived from tolls, which were levied on all kinds of merchandise carried into or from Dublin by canal.

About the mid-forties of the last century the tonnage on the Grand Canal alone was nearly 300,000 per annum, and the tolls on this reached upwards of £30,000. But the advent of railways caused this traffic to decline.

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The Irish Times, March 29th, 1941