An 18th century Swansea Toll House is on the market after going through a spectacular renovation which would not look out of place on BBC’s Homes Under The Hammer programme.
The historic Georgian Tollgate House in Sketty, dating back to the 1770s, has been transformed into a fine four-bedroom home by award-winning Swansea property developer Ben Shepherd.
Having bought the semi-detached townhouse from a Dawsons Estate Agents’ auction Ben is now selling it on through Dawsons again.
After purchasing the house and then refurbishing it he has put the house on the market with Dawsons for £369,950.
Originally, the property was the tollgate house for Gower – known as the Upper Sketty Cross tollgate – and a photograph of it is on the front page of a book covering the Rebecca Riots during the mid-19th century.
The Rebecca Riots took place in South and Mid-Wales and were a series of protests undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers in response to perceived unfair taxation through tolls.
The rioters, often men dressed as women, took their actions against tollgates as they were tangible representations of high taxes and tolls.
“It was only after we bought the property that was up for auction with Dawsons estate agents that we fully uncovered the history of the house,” said Ben.
“It is a fascinating story and I think it adds some extra historical value to the property.
“For instance, I think people coming from Gower to Swansea had to pay 1d (one old penny) which paid for one person and 20 sheep.”
“But as time went on the tolls were resented by people hence the onset of the Rebecca Riots.”
Added Ben: “After buying the property from Dawsons’ auction department they were the right choice to market the property, especially as the Gorseinon branch sold my last development in Loughor in less than 48 hours, and was happy with the selling process undertaken with Dawsons’ Sketty branch.”
A carpenter by trade Ben spent around seven months transforming the three-storey house into a four-bedroom property with two separate bathooms.
Ben has transformed properties in Rhossili and Limeslade and won an award for excellence in 2009 as self build development of the year from the Local Authority Building Control (LABC).
