Fordingbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fordingbridge |
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 Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fordingbridge |
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 Fordingbridge
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| Population | 6,200 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SU148142 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FORDINGBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | SP6 |
| Dialling code | 01425 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Fordingbridge is a friendly town in Hampshire, England. It sits right on the River Avon and is part of the New Forest District. About 6,200 people live here.
The town is close to the borders of Dorset and Wiltshire. It's also right on the edge of the beautiful New Forest. Fordingbridge is about 81 miles (130 km) southwest of London. It is also 10 miles (16 km) south of the city of Salisbury.
Fordingbridge used to be a busy market town. It is famous for its old bridge, which has seven arches. This bridge crosses the River Avon in the middle of town. The Avon Valley Path, a walking trail, goes right through Fordingbridge. Since 1982, Fordingbridge has been connected with Vimoutiers in Normandy, France. This is called town twinning.
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Exploring Fordingbridge
Fordingbridge is often called the 'Northern Gateway' to the New Forest. Many tourists love to visit this area. You can find lots of campsites, pubs, and restaurants here.
The Fordingbridge Museum is a great place to learn about the town's history. It also has exhibits about the New Forest. You can find the museum and the Visitor Information Centre at King's Yard, Salisbury Street. The High Street in Fordingbridge is known for its cafes, local shops, and pubs. The town even has its own cinema, located in an old pottery building.
Nearby, you can visit Rockbourne Roman Villa. This ancient Roman site is about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Fordingbridge. The village of Breamore is 3 miles north. It is home to Breamore House, an old Elizabethan country house.
The Great Bridge is where the town gets its name. It has seven arches and is a famous landmark. You can see it from the town's large riverside park. This park has a play area for kids. It also has quiet memorial gardens and a big sports field. A bronze statue of the painter Augustus John stands by the River Avon. He used to live in Fordingbridge.
St. Mary's Church is in the south of town. It has some old Norman features. Inside, there is a memorial to James Alexander Seton. He was the last British person killed in a duel in England. Fordingbridge also has a Catholic church called Our Lady of Sorrows and St Philip Benizi. This building dates from 1874.
Fordingbridge Hospital is a small local hospital. It was built on the site of an old workhouse. The hospital has a ward for patients. It also offers some outpatient services. The Fordingbridge Doctors Surgery is on the same site. The hospital was used as a COVID-19 vaccination centre starting in 2020.
The local comprehensive school for older students is The Burgate School And Sixth Form Centre. It is in Burgate, a small area north of town.
Fordingbridge is home to Fordingbridge Turks FC. This is one of the oldest football clubs in England. It started around 1868. The team's name, 'Turks', might come from wanting to be as determined as Ottoman forces. Fordingbridge Turks FC plays its games at the recreation ground. This ground is also where Fordingbridge Rugby Club plays.
Town Geography
The area around Fordingbridge includes several small communities. These are called hamlets. They include Burgate to the north and Criddlestyle to the east. You can also find Bickton to the south and Ashford to the west.
Burgate and Bickton are very old settlements. They were mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Bickton actually had more male heads of households than Fordingbridge back then. Criddlestyle is also an old area, with a history going back to the 1300s.
Today, Ashford is the largest hamlet. It used to have an old watermill. It was also the site of Fordingbridge railway station until it closed in 1964. Another hamlet near Fordingbridge is Tinkers Cross. It is about a mile (1.6 km) northwest of the town centre.
Several villages are within 5 miles (8 km) of Fordingbridge. These include Sandleheath, Damerham, Rockbourne, Whitsbury, Breamore, Woodgreen, Godshill and Hyde. All of these are in Hampshire. Alderholt is southwest of Fordingbridge and is part of Dorset.
Fordingbridge is north of Ringwood and Bournemouth. It is south of Downton and Salisbury. All these places are connected by the A338 road.
A Look at Fordingbridge's Past
Fordingbridge is mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. Back then, it was called Forde. The land was owned by a man named Robert. Before 1066, it belonged to Alwy, who held it from King Edward.
For many centuries, the land of Fordingbridge was passed down through different families. The lord of the manor used to hold a market in Fordingbridge. This market was held weekly until the mid-1800s. A fair was also held every year on September 9th.
From the 1200s to the 1400s, a bailiff governed Fordingbridge. Later, a constable was chosen each year. This constable was the main officer until 1878. That's when a Local District Council was set up to govern the town.
A big fire happened in Fordingbridge on May 23, 1702. It destroyed 43 houses, which were never rebuilt. Fordingbridge Town Hall was built in 1877. It stands almost in the middle of the town.
In the 1500s, cloth was made here. By the 1800s, factories made sailcloth and canvas. They also spun flax. By 1900, the main industries were making sailcloth, canvas, bricks, and tiles. There were also flour mills, an iron foundry, and food works.
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Fordingbridge railway station opened in 1866. It closed in 1964. The station was just outside town, on the road to Sandleheath. Today, that road is still called Station Road. However, a large mill and industrial park now stand where the station used to be. The station connected Fordingbridge to Salisbury in the north and Poole in the south. It was part of the Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway.
The Famous Great Bridge
The first bridge in Fordingbridge was built before 1252. People were given money to help repair it. Several more grants followed over the years. The bridge is 40 metres (130 feet) long. It has seven stone arches. It is one of only two bridges in the UK with seven arches. This bridge brought a lot of travel and trade through the town.
At the east end of the bridge, there was once a hospital. It was called Saint John the Baptist Hospital. It was founded in 1272 for poor travellers. It closed in 1546. Only some old foundation walls remain today.
An old custom lasted until 1840. During one summer month, called "fence month", the lord of Fordingbridge had to guard the bridge. He would arrest anyone caught taking venison (deer meat) from the New Forest.
The bridge was changed a lot in 1841. Both sides were made wider, adding 45 cm (18 inches) to its width. You can still see the original arches. They are smaller than the parts added in the 1800s. In 1901, a concrete footpath was added to one side to make the bridge even wider.
Famous People from Fordingbridge
Many interesting people have connections to Fordingbridge:
- Major General Andrew Hay (1762–1814) – A British Army officer. He lived in Fordingbridge from 1802 until he died in battle in 1814.
- William Ernest Brymer (1840–1909) – A politician and Member of Parliament. He was born in Fordingbridge.
- Charles Chubb (1779–1845) – An English maker of locks and safes.
- James Alexander Seton (1816–1845) – The last British person killed in a duel in Britain. He is buried at St Mary's Church.
- John Charles Durant (1846–1929) – An English printer and a Liberal politician.
- Augustus John (1878–1961) – A Welsh portrait artist. He lived in Fordingbridge from 1927 until he passed away.
- Frank Jefferis (1884–1938) – A former footballer for Southampton, Everton, and the England team.
- Neil McCarthy (1932–1985) – An English actor.
- Anne-Marie Mallik (born 1952) – A former child actress. She played Alice in Alice in Wonderland (1966 TV play).
- Paul Kidby (born 1964) – An artist known for his work based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld. He lives and works in Fordingbridge.
- Daniel O'Mahony (born 1973) – A writer.
- David Oakes (born 1983) – An actor.
Images for kids
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Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fordingbridge
See also
In Spanish: Fordingbridge para niños
