Crossing Lives: Celebrating The Tamar Bridge Toll Booth Workers
The Fotonow team are excited to announce Crossing Lives – a social history and photography project that explores the lives of the toll booth workers who have been at the heart of the Tamar Bridge since its construction in 1961. Crossing Lives is part of Historic England’s Everyday Heritage grant programme and will see Fotonow collaborate with the Bridging the Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre to shine a spotlight on the unsung toll staff who have manned the crossing for generations.
We are eager to hear from you if you have a connection to the Tamar Bridge toll booths! To contribute or to find out more please email stories@fotonow.org or complete our contact form linked here!
The project will produce a series of powerful images while the community helps capture oral histories, working with current and former toll booth workers to share their personal experiences. These stories and images will be showcased in a large-scale public exhibition along the Tamar bridge. This project will preserve these stories for future generations, using the bridge as a metaphor for connection between Devon and Cornwall, while celebrating the people who keep it moving.
We’re so excited to receive Historic England’s support to explore and celebrate the untold stories of the Tamar Bridge toll booth workers. These individuals have been the face of this iconic structure for generations, playing a vital but often overlooked role in connecting our communities across Devon and Cornwall. This project represents a unique opportunity to capture an important piece of local history before it’s lost, while creating meaningful connections between the people who’ve kept the bridge running and the communities they’ve served. Matt Pontin, Creative Director, Fotonow CIC
Are you a current or former toll booth worker, or do you have memories to share about the Tamar Bridge toll booths? Help us preserve this important piece of local history – email stories@fotonow.org or use our contact form linked here to get in touch.
Crossing Lives is supported by Historic England’s Everyday Heritage grant programme, which celebrates working class histories across the nation. As one of over 100 community-led projects funded since 2022, Crossing Lives contributes to Historic England’s mission to uncover untold stories and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our history. Through this initiative, Historic England continues to further our collective understanding of the past by supporting projects that put communities at the center of telling their own stories.
Image credit: Nicholas Horne for Tamar Crossings (1, 3), Fotonow CIC (2)
