Central Bridge, Bargate, the Woolbridge and lots more

Here are a few more.

Some are outside the city boundary but close enough to be of interest.

Read more: Images snapped from the Bargate over the past 13 decades >>>

Central Bridge

Central Bridge extends from Terminus Terrace eastwards.

In the 1880s, there were serious complaints about the inconvenience caused by the need to wait at the level crossings, on the approach roads to the Floating Bridge.

William Jacomb, Chief Engineer for the London and South Western Railway Company, proposed building one central bridge, with traffic funnelled into it along Terminus Terrace.

The Castle Way Footbridge

Built in 1988, The Castle Way Footbridge carries the route around the north walls across Castle Way to Arundel Tower.

On the wall just before the Bridge, there’s a sculpture of John le Flemyng, MP and Mayor of Southampton in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth century - the artist is Anthony Griffiths.

The Woolbridge

A lost landmark off the south end of Bugle Street, a 15th-century jetty for loading wool - jetties were often known as bridges at that period.

It was approached by the still partly surviving Wool Gate postern at the east end of Cuckoo Lane, southwest of the Yacht Club building.

My Lord Chief Baron's Bridge

My Lord Chief Baron's Bridge was another 15th-century jetty, this one belonging to Tudor House.

When the House was occupied by the Lord Chief Baron Sir Richard Lyster, Blue Anchor Lane was renamed "My Lord Chief Baron's Lane", and the bridge was similarly named.

The jetty lay outside the walls between the Postern Gate at Blue Anchor Lane on the south, and "le Berewyves gutter" (Beehives Gutter) to the north.

Bargate and East Gate

Both the Bargate and the East Gate had stone bridges outside them, to cross the ditches that surrounded the North and East sides of the Old Town – the original moats, that protected the walls from attack.

This is where the area "The Ditches" got its name. 

The Friars’ Gate

The Friars' Gate on the east side of the city walls also had a bridge.

In the 1300s, The Friars petitioned the town to be allowed to build a gate and a wooden bridge, to enable them to reach their orchards and fish ponds on the east side of the walls and the moat.

Permission was given, provided that in the event of an attack they would burn the Bridge and defend the Gate.

Bernard Street

In the 17th century, Bernard Street was known as Pitts Lane and stretched only from the High Street to the eastern town walls.

In the 18th century, after the walls fell into decay, a rope bridge was built over the town ditch. In the early 19th century, this was replaced by a stone bridge.  

Unfortunately we have no pictures of these.

God's House Tower

The southernmost bridge crossing the Ditches was the one shown in the picture of God's House Tower, crossing over the sluice.

Waterloo Bridge. 

A lane once ran from the south side of New Road, between numbers 24 and 26, to a footbridge over the railway line which provided access to St Peter’s Church.

Eling Toll Bridge

Possibly England’s oldest surviving medieval toll bridge crosses Bartley Water past Eling Tide Mill.

The first mention of a toll being charged was in the 1700s. The charge then was six old pence (2&1/2p) for a four-wheeled carriage.

The mill and toll were owned by Winchester College until 1975 when they were given to the local council.

The toll charge increased to 30 new pence in 1988, and to £1 today.

Bursledon Bridge

A toll bridge was built in 1798 by the Bursledon Bridge Company to improve communications east of Southampton. This enabled traffic to travel along the turnpike road from Northam (Toll) Bridge to Titchfield and Portsmouth without using the ford in Botley.

In 1930, Hampshire County Council bought it from the bridge company and freed it from tolls.

The wooden bridge was replaced by the present concrete bridge between 1933 and 1935.

• Jack Wilson is a tour guide with SeeSouthampton.co.uk .