Fordingbridge

Fordingbridge

Three Fordingbridge Curiosities

Ford(ing)Bridge

The medieval Great Bridge that spans in Avon in the centre of Fordingbridge is 40 meters long and features of seven stone arches.

Famous Artist Residents

Augustus John, Welsh portrait artist (born 1878), lived in Fordingbridge from 1927 until his death in 1961. Paul Kidby (born 1964) lives and works in Fordingbridge and is best known for his artwork featured in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of books.

The Turks (FC)

Fordingbridge is home to Fordingbridge Turks FC, one of the 50 oldest football clubs in England, established circa 1868.

About Fordingbridge

Fordingbridge is a small country town on the banks of the River Avon. It was recorded in the Domesday book and the name has evolved through the years (unsurprisingly) from `Forde' and `Bridge'. The first Great Bridge, built in medieval times, is upstream from the ford and is a major feature of the town with its seven graceful arches.

Once an industrial town and commercial centre, Fordingbridge boasted many trades such as brickmaking, pottery and textiles. It was also noted for its smuggling and the infamous Captain Diamond, the `Smuggler King' spent much of his time here in a local hostelry. The town has developed into a wonderful place for visitors with its beautiful scenery, nature havens, cycleways and welcoming people.

Things to Do and See in Fordingbridge

• The Fordingbridge Museum, which houses local history exhibits, and the Visitor Information Centre are located in King's Yard.
• A few yards from the High Street is the parish church of St. Mary. Largely built in 1150 it has some typical Norman characteristics.
• Not far from Fordingbridge is Alderholt Mill. There has been a Mill on this site since the 14th century. The Mill machinery was worked commercially until 1947; since then it was left to fall into disrepair. It was fully restored and successfully produced flour again in 1987. It is now a bed and breakfast, which opens the Mill for cream teas, sale of bread, flour etc, at weekends, 2pm-6pm. A speciality is to offer bread made from their own freshly milled flour. Milling demonstrations take place on Sundays at 3pm between Easter and October.
• Breamore church, a short drive south of Fordingbridge, exhibits many Saxon features, and is believed to have been founded soon after 980 A.D.
• Fishing at Riverside Park - day permits are available from the Visitor information Centre, or Q8 service station.
• As always there are plenty of Forest walks for visitors to take and there is a good selection of local shops as well as an attractive children's playground and park alongside the river. The town's large riverside park provides access to the River Avon where you can walk along the riverbank draped with willows and waterside plants. Close by is a children's play area, secluded memorial gardens, parks, and sports playing fields.

A Little Fordingbridge History

Fordingbridge is an historic market town with a population of 6,000 on the banks of the River Avon, close to the new Forest, and within easy reach of the city of Salisbury, and the seaside resort of Bournemouth.

From earliest times, man has inhabited the area. On the chalk downlands, earthworks of the Neolithic (New Stone Age) and of the Bronze Age are still to be seen. However, evidence such as flint tools and pottery sherds show that these prehistoric people lived, not just on the downs, but in all parts of the region.

Fordingbridge acquired a station on the Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway in 1866, which resulted in the development of the 'suburb' of Ashford. The Railway Hotel, renamed the Load of Hay after the closure of the line in 1963, was more recently renamed after Fordingbridge's most famous former inhabitant, The Augustus John.

From the 1960s onwards, the town of Fordingbridge has expanded considerably, with several housing estates added to the historic core of the town, resulting in a population increase to almost 6000. The by-pass, constructed in the mid-70s, diverted much of the heavy traffic from the town centre and the narrow medieval bridge.

Fordingbridge is twinned with Vimoutiers in Normandy and celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2002.