Earle Bailey report about the raising of the toll at the Ha'Penny Bridge (also known as Halfpenny Bridge) for the Tyne Tees TV news programme Today at Six broadcast on 12 June 1969. Bailey interviews the toll keeper Bill Hyde and the driver of a pony and trap using the bridge, which is subsidised by Lady Margaret Winsome Ringrose-Wharton. The report opens with a panoramic view, which takes in Saltburn beach and Skelton Beck looking towards Marine Parade on the opposite cliff top,...

Earle Bailey report about the raising of the toll at the Ha'Penny Bridge (also known as Halfpenny Bridge) for the Tyne Tees TV news programme Today at Six broadcast on 12 June 1969. Bailey interviews the toll keeper Bill Hyde and the driver of a pony and trap using the bridge, which is subsidised by Lady Margaret Winsome Ringrose-Wharton. The report opens with a panoramic view, which takes in Saltburn beach and Skelton Beck looking towards Marine Parade on the opposite cliff top, Saltburn pier in the background, then Saltburn Valley leading towards the spectacular cast iron Halfpenny Bridge across the Glen, which links Saltburn to Bank Top. Earle Bailey provides a wry commentary about the sleepy seaside resort of Saltburn, bypassed by the crowds who visited Redcar, and gives some of the history of the 600-year-old Ha'Penny Bridge, financed by the Wharton family of Skelton Castle. [End of commentary and first section of interview missing] Bailey interviews toll keeper Bill Hyde at his cottage beside the Ha'Penny Bridge about the rise in the price to cross the bridge. He asks how many people cross the bridge on a good day. The toll keeper thinks that on average the figure is 400. Bailey asks how much he makes in a week. He says he can make around 3 pounds. The reporter hears that the man’s salary is £6 10 shillings and a house to live in. One of the perks of the job is the 4 tons of coal he also receives. The reporter observes that the charges do not even add up to the toll-keeper’s salary, and wonders how the bridge survives. The toll-keeper replies: ‘On the generosity of Mrs Ringrose-Wharton. Coming back to the Skelton motto “Generosity is born and not made”. Bailey asks what kind of passengers he gets crossing the bridge. The toll-keeper says he gets all sorts: cyclists, horse riders. A horse and trap pulls up to the tollgate. The toll-keeper swings into action. Bailey asks him how much it is going to cost the driver. The reply is tuppence. The reporter acts surprised and says that it’s expensive. He greets the driver and asks if he’s a regular user. The man replies that he’s been using the bridge for 73 years and that he doesn’t find it expensive. “It’s the only thing that’s never gone up.” The reporter laughs and says that it is going to go up fairly soon. He asks whether the man will still be able to afford it. He says that he will. Bailey then jokingly asks him if he could borrow the horse as he’s all for free rides. He works in television and they do not have the kind of money the driver has. The driver agrees to loan him the horse. The reporter says that he will even pay the tuppence charge.  Note: The bridge was originally named after the half penny toll that was required to cross it.