On 13 February 2023, Keith Parry gave a talk about the Thames bridges between Oxford and Abingdon to a well-attended meeting with over 40 guests.
The first part of Keith’s talk was a general overview of bridges. In the 11th century, there was only one bridge over the Thames and that was in London. In the following six centuries, the addition of further bridges over the Thames followed the ups and downs of the English economy, with a big increase from the middle of the 13th century as the population and economy grew. Bridges often replaced fords or ferries, being safer and more efficient. They were particularly important in shaping the route of long distance trading networks. Wooden bridges were gradually replaced by stone. The costs of maintaining them were met in various ways, through bridge estates, which often derived their income from rents, through bequests and endowments, and through tolls levied on traffic passing over and under a bridge.
Having set the background, Keith went on to talk about four local bridges in more detail, one of which was Abingdon Bridge. Before it was built, the east-west route through the town was difficult, requiring ferry crossings over the Thames and Swift Ditch. As a result, wool from the Cotswolds that was sent to London for export avoided the town. At the start of the 15th century, in a bid to capture this trade, four merchants from Abingdon built bridges across the Thames and Swift Ditch. Unfortunately, wool exports from the Cotswolds were being replaced at this time by the export of cloth manufactured in the Newbury area. The cloth was sent directly to London, once again by-passing Abingdon. Abingdon Bridge was improved in 1829 to take two-way traffic and entirely rebuilt in 1927: this is the bridge we see today.
Keith also talked about Folly Bridge in Oxford and the bridges at Sutton Courtenay and Clifton Hampden.