In the past, the Welsh people never took to laws and rules that were made in England and then enforced in Wales, and in the mid 19th century what became known as the Rebecca Riots began because of an English law.

The many toll-gates on the roads in South Wales were one such English law that the Welsh did not like at all!

These toll-gate laws imposed an additional financial burden on this poor farming community and people decided that enough was enough.

The people took the law into their own hands and gangs were formed to destroy the toll-gates. These gangs became known as the 'Rebecca Gangs'. They took their name from a piece in the Bible, Genesis XXIV verse 60 - 'And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, Let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them'.

Usually at night, men dressed as women with blackened faces attacked the hated toll-gates and destroyed them.  

A huge man, named Thomas Rees was the first 'Rebecca' and he destroyed the toll-gates at Yr Efail Wen in Carmarthenshire.

Sometimes it would be an old blind woman who would stop at a toll-gate and say "My children, something is in my way", at which the Rebecca gang would appear and tear down the gates.

Many gates were destroyed and as soon as the authorities replaced them, a 'Rebecca' and his gang would tear them down again!

Eventually the authorities had to concede defeat and most of the hated toll-gates were legally removed in 1844.

These toll-gates never appeared in South Wales again!

Useful links:
Heritage Accommodation in Wales

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