A look back at Fordingbridge through the years

The manor dates back prior to 1066 and changed hands many times through the years including long spells with the Brune family and the Prideaux-Brune family.

A market was held weekly by the lord of the manor before 1273, first on Saturday, then on Friday, until the middle of the 19th century when it was scraped.

The first bridge existed in the New Forest town by 1252 and helped the area become popular for trade.

Cloth was produced in Fordingbridge as far back as the 1500s, and in the 19th century, there were factories for the manufacture of sailcloth, canvas and the spinning of flax.

Among the chief industries of the town by 1900 were sailcloth and canvas manufacturing, brick and tile making, flour milling, an iron foundry, and the Neave’s food works.

A fire broke out in the town on May 23, 1702, destroying 43 houses which were never rebuilt.

The Great Fire of Fordingbridge – as it came to be known – caused such devastating damage that collections were made in churches throughout England to try and help the Fordingbridge community cope with the disaster.

In 1707 an Act of Parliament was passed that required every Parish to provide its own engine and records suggest that Fordingbridge first put theirs into use in 1711.

Fordingbridge railway station was opened in 1866 but closed less than a century later in 1964.

Located along the Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway, the station provided connections to Salisbury to the north and Poole to the south.

Do you live in Fordingbridge? Have you spent much time there in the past? Share your memories of the area by emailing ian.crump@dailyecho.co.uk .