This is a straightforward traditional cache placed a few metres west of the roadside Toll House which marked the eastern end of the St Austell and Lostwithiel Turnpike Trust.
The terrain rating reflects the proximity to a very fast section of the road - see note below the image
The West Taphouse Toll House was one of four known Toll Houses belonging to the St Austell and Lostwithiel Turnpike Trust which was created in 1761 to maintain and widen the 18 mile stretch of the road from the eastern boundary of Grampound to West Taphouse.
In addition, there were at least four Side Bars which were where road users were charged to exit the Turnpike. For example, there was a side bar at Pelyn between St Blazey and Lostwithiel where travellers would be charged to leave the turnpike to head north towards Bodmin where they would then be charged to use Bodmin Trust Turnpike.
At some time in the past, this toll house was joined to the Old School House belonging to the West Taphouse Old School - the school buildings and school house are still in existence but they all look to be in a rather sad state. In particular, the tile-hung toll house which is literally half a metre from the edge of a very fast stretch of the A390 is looking much neglected and in danger of needing major renovation. Unfortunately, the building does not appear to have any heritage listing protection.
This is a very fast stretch of the A390 and great care must be taken on the narrow pavement from the parking area to the GZ.
The milestone at the GZ is very interesting and ironically it is Grade II listed. The Toll House is about 20 metres past this milestone
!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS LOCATION FOR CHILDREN OR GEOHOUNDS - TRAFFIC SPEEDS ARE FAST !!
All active UK Toll House caches can be found here.
If other geocachers would like to set caches near UK Toll Houses, please get in touch with The Chens first and they will issue a number in the same way as the Church Micro series. They ask that the name is in the form "UK Toll House number - Local name". If you have a system of numbering your own caches, as they do, please put that last.