Three strange river crossings

As always, the references I used for the video are in the description! I'm worried that I've messed up some minor point of law — and I did gloss over some nuance, you can see that in the description — but I'm as sure as I can be.

I just want to reiterate Tom's message about "use it or lose it" and the log book. If you visit a quirky place that has a guestbook, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sign it. That is often what these tiny organizations will use to justify their continued existence to their investors.

At the 5p bridge near Oxford I saw a guy hand over £20 note and ask to pay for the next 400 cars. Tollkeeper just said "no change" and charged the next car 5p again 😂

"Water Level to low" code for he's at the pub refilling his water level

For anyone curious, the "two shillings and a sixpence" original toll amounts to 1/8 of a pound, which is why following decimalisation the toll changed to 12p and has stayed as such since.

Maybe "water levels too low" is code for "ferryman at his day job for money required to live."

Get in quick! These are going to bombarded with Tom Scott tourists soon. I’m sure the rowing one is going to be getting very tired.

I freaking love the pricing for the Thelwall ferry. Passengers: 1/2p. Dogs: 1/2p. Doesn't give a price for cats or ferrets, oddly.

“Whenever required…” the ferry services were imposed as alternative to bridges that had to be removed to make way for the canal. Therefore the purpose of the ferries is to provide a way to cross the canal as with the bridges which were useable 24/7. So that would favour the “whenever somebody needs to cross the canal” interpretation and require a 24 hour permanent service. Of course, a corporate lawyer working for a company with an interest to provide the minimal possible service it can get away with might see things differently.

Live near the Warburton bridge myself, 12 or 25p for the day. They want to rise it to £1 but people are proper mad about it. Problem is, the 12p only pays for painting and staff as well as other minor repairs, £1 is thought within the next 20 years or so to be able to pay for a brand new bridge. The one currently is said to be structurally sound but is slowly decaying. Its a strange situation. Its an incredibly well used bridge as it connects west manchester to warrington, its quite convenient. Great video, its a terrific local quirk.

He's not wrong about Peel group, they own tons of land and property in greater Manchester and beyond too, it's like they are trying to create their own little kingdom in the North West of England

Now I finally understand what anarchy in the UK is! Abiding by centuries-old laws to slightly inconvenience multi-billion dollar companies.

4:12 A 67% tip? Ridiculous! It seems Tom is living large...

So many of those weird idiosyncrasies in British law boil down to "it would take more effort to remove this and also it doesn't bother anyone anyway"

2 shillings and sixpence: a shilling is 1/20 of a pound (in new money that would be 5 pence, 10 for the pair), and a six pence is 0.025 of a pound (new money 2.5 pence) for a total of 12.5 pence. I'm impressed they kept all the relative values intact through decimalisation.

You're a preserver of history, in many senses. England, and the world, owe you a debt of gratitude. Thanks for the content, Tom :)

So weird seeing Tom so close to home! Never thought anyone else would take notice of that old 12p Toll road, there’s a bit of confusion around it. Most people believe it collects toll for a bridge a few hundred meters from it, when in fact it actually collects toll for a completely unnoticeable tiny bridge that it sits right next to!

I live by these crossings. I’ve taken my kids across the hulmes ferry. He’s a very nice bloke. But the toll bridge is always a nightmare. Someone set fire to the toll booth a couple of years ago it is that hated.

I never thought I'd be excited to watch a video about river crossings

I realize what I like about Tom. His tones are of an eminent finality. There's closure in the delivery, a tonal testament that gives me a soothing sense of deliberate and sincere appreciation for both the presentation and the content.