Meet The Tall Tollhouse - one of the kingdom's most vital sources of steady revenue!

The Tall Tollhouse is a structure loosely inspired by the tollhouses that actually operated in the Middle Ages at bridges and border crossings. The build consists of three main, rich in detail sections and the structure is designed to look interesting from every angle. Naturally, it also includes a small merchant’s wagon, offering extra play possibilities and fitting perfectly with the era's aesthetic.

The Main Idea

When designing the set, I wanted to capture the spirit of the actual building as faithfully as possible while ensuring an engaging build process and technical variety across each floor (including the exterior). I feel the serious splash of red adds charm to the structure, as do the bold colors of the roof, the accents representing a specific knightly faction, and the plant elements. The cherry on top is the selection of minifigures - though I had to make some compromises there, I think the result turned out very well.

The Build

The Tall Tollhouse is a modular build, designed to align with the popular standard for medieval-style buildings.

The ground floor is a stone structure featuring a raisable bridge (equipped with a special mechanism) and a barrier gate that can be closed when needed. Here, you will find the quarters for the chief customs officer and the guards, as well as a wide inspection corridor. To make playing easier, the walls of the side rooms can be easily removed. It is worth noting that the defensive tower is accessible only from the guard quarters, while on the other side, there is even... a latrine!

The first floor serves as the workspace for the customs officer and his apprentice, who still has years of training ahead of him. Its exterior features half-timbered styling, highlighted by the Serpent coat of arms - proudly displayed on the central section and visible from afar. Inside, there are numerous tables useful for weighing and measuring goods, as well as a hatch for hoisting cargo up from the level below.

Finally, the attic - somewhat more austere, yet no less important. This is where the hoist serving the full height of the building is located, along with a storage area for the most valuable goods. A defensive tower also crowns this level, which is topped by a roof featuring a distinctively designed skylight on one side.

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Feel free to take a look around, and if you have any questions about the build, don't hesitate to ask in the comments!