The Toll House at Brentford Lock is a reminder of the town's historic connections with trade and the river.

A lock was built in the early 19th century near the Thames and the arched bridge was replaced by a single span granite one that can still be seen from the tow path underneath the present one.

Getting in and out of the canal was restricted to a two-hour period either side of high tide and this is still the case.

The canal trade expanded through the 19th century carrying heavy and bulky goods and tolls were paid on the weight and value of what was being carried.

In the early 20th century a Toll House was built as an office for the lock keeper at the lock above Brentford Bridge.

This was the Gauging Lock where boats were gauged or measured to assess the tolls to be paid on their cargoes.

A special stick was used by the lock keeper known as a gauging rod to measure how high out of the water the boat was sitting and from this he could calculate the weight of cargo on board.

As traffic increased, Thames Lock and the Gauging Lock (now known as Brentford Lock) were both doubled.

Goods carried included timber, steel, aluminium, metal, pitch, sulphates, tar, corn, bricks, coal, hay, coffee, paper, cement and refuse.

The Toll House still stands by the lock above Brentford Bridge and is a listed building.