HAT VISIT TO FORDINGBRIDGE

Fordingbridge is a small town in the far west of Hampshire and is known as the northern gateway to the New Forest, and is midway between Salisbury and Bournemouth. It lies on the River Avon and is famed for its late medieval Great Bridge with its seven arches and some Victorian additions! Fordingbridge Historical Society have very kindly arranged a guided tour for us on the afternoon of Wednesday 27th April. Our afternoon will start at the Fordingbridge Museum where we will be met by our hosts. This is situated in Kings Yard off the Salisbury Road and a short walk from the nearest car park in the Bartons (postcode for the car park is below), and is housed in an old Granary. It has exhibits of the previous trades of the area which include sailcloth making, and also a history of one of Fordingbridge’s more famous residents – Augustus John, whose bronze statue stands on the banks of the river near the Great Bridge. We will then have a guided tour of the town and the Grade 1 listed St Mary’s Church, with its many architectural styles and independent shops. This will be followed by tea in the Avonway Community Centre, during which a film showing Fordingbridge in the 1960’s will be shown.

The postcode for the parking is SP6 1AQ and costs £1.00 per hour. The X3 bus from Salisbury to Bournemouth passes through Fordingbridge and leaves from the Blue Boar in Salisbury and is a short walk from Salisbury Railway Station. Most of the walking will be flat and on pavements and since the town has been by-passed by the A338, the traffic is local There are several cafes, coffee shops and pubs along the High Street and Bridge Street, if you would like to lunch before joining us, and for those that enjoy picnicking, there is a riverside park with lovely views of the Great Bridge.

The cost for this afternoon will be £15.00pp to include afternoon tea, a donation to the Museum and the remainder to Fordingbridge Historical Society. We do hope you will join us in visiting this little jewel of a town which tends to be overlooked when talking of the many wonderful places to visit in Hampshire.

How to book

Bookings can be made by e-mail to events@hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk or by post to:

HAT Events, c/o 236 Hunts Pond Road, Fareham, PO14 4PG.  Tel: 01489 573056 – stating your method of payment: BACS – sort code 30-99-71, HAT account 00361865, giving your name and the name of the visit as a reference, OR by cheque payable to Hampshire Archives Trust to the above address.