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XXL— SHIRE OR COUNTY TOLL. 



THE Shire or County Tolls belonging to the city of Carlisle were 

 levied on all horses, cattle, sheep, and merchandise entering or 

 leaving Cumberland for sale ; during the last century, however, it was 

 only levied on horses, cattle, and sheep, and on a notice board, still 

 standing at Broiigham Bridge, the tolls are set out : — 



For every bull, ox, cow, or steer . . . . . . id. 



For every horse . . . . . . . . • • 2d. 



For every score of sheep . . . . . . • • 2d. 



The Corporation let the gathering of the tolls at Eamont Bridge 

 to the landlord of the adjoining inn for £40 a year, " and because they 

 found a benefit from it in selling liquors " the landlord reduced the 

 toll to drovers who drank freely. Other places where the toU 

 was levied were Hudforth, a ford on the river Eamont not far from 

 where it joins the Eden, Millrigg near Culgaith, Pooley Bridge, Duddon 

 Bridge, Cockley Bridge, Dunmail Raise, Brougham Bridge, and Long 

 Marton ; although the latter is some few miles in Westmorland, it was 

 the first village after crossing Newbiggin Moor on the great drift road 

 for cattle coming out of Scotland by way of Bewcastle. 



It was stated that Westmorland people had never paid tolls on 

 cattle going into Cumberland till about 1873, and that in 1878 it was 

 being refused — the farmers used to take their cattle in by roads which 

 were not watched and so evaded payment — but they had no exemption. 



The Town Clerk of Carlisle writes that the toll is still being collected 

 at the county boundary. Some years ago the railway companies 

 passing through Cumberland combined and resisted the tolls, the 

 case being finally settled by the House of Lords in favour of the 

 Corporation ; after that time the railway companies entered into an 

 agreement and compounded for the toll by payment of annual toUs, 

 which have since been commuted by payment of capital sums. 



No one in Westmorland can remember ever paying the toll. 



