They say that you don't have to be mad to live here but it helps. A fine example of English eccentricity has just come on the market for anyone with about $1.5m plus to spare. In 1769 George III enacted legislation for the Earl of Abingdon to build a toll bridge across the Thames, at Swinton near Oxford, with a ban on any other bridges within three miles either way. The Earl ran a ferry but did a deal whereby, in return for building a stone bridge, parliament enacted a law giving the tax-free income from the tolls to him, his "heirs and assigns" for ever.
Some 240 years later; about 10,000 cars a day cross the bridge and although they only pay about 8 cents toll the income each year is about $300,000 tax free. Annual running and maintenance costs are about half of this, the rest is money in the bank. To some this is an example of what makes England England, for the locals queuing to pay their 5p each day, it's a pain in the ass and they want the anachronism done away with. The 5p toll is set by government. The bridge has been sold for just over £1m which gives the purchaser about 10% return on their investment tax free, not bad.
Peter Guest
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