Geograph - photograph every grid square

The foundations of the old toll house on the Shotley-Stanhope turnpike, now the B6278 north of Stanhope. This was kept by John and Dorothy Coulson for many decades. Certainly they were there by 1841 and raised a large family at this bleak spot, 425m AOD. John worked as "road master" for the toll road company and Dorothy as a toll collector. They must have been tough; Dorothy died in 1855 aged about 72 and John in 1866 aged about 83. At the age of 78 he was still listing his occupation as "turnpike road repairer".