Lymington's toll bridge - scandal in 1731!

How a Merchant Captain built a dam, imposed a toll and silted up Lymington River

During the early 17th Century, King Charles I granted a Robert Pamplin all the mudlands between Calshot Castle and Hurst Castle" in consideration of a great debt and faithful service done."

Almost a century later, in 1731, a descendent of Robert Pamplin, Merchant Captain William Cross of Boldre, decided to build a dam and causeway across Lymington River. He built toll houses and charged travellers using his causeway, more than a mile south of the existing bridge at Boldre.

The creation of the dam and tollroad seriously upset ship owners, locals and the Lymington Corportation - and transformed Lymington River forever.

The Toll Bridge Scandal

The dam seriously upset the Corporation, prompting Mayor Charles Powlett to write in protest: "Whereas Captain Cross hath lately erected across the River a Bank or Dam, whereby it is apprehended the navigation will be greatly injured (in not in time totally destroyed) unless some method be taken to prevent it. It is therefore ordered that the Town Clarke do state a proper case, and lay the same before Counsell, and report his opinon to the Mayor and Burgesses, when assembled at the Town Hall; and that the Town Clarke doe bring an Action of Trespass against said Captain Cross at the suite of the Mayor and Burgesses, for digging and carrying away land at Bridge Green, which was then in the possession of the Corporation."

By the time the action came against Captain Cross before Winchester Assizes in 1739, the Captain had died. The Corporation lost the action for trespass against the widow Cross which called for the demolition of the causeway. 

Widow Cross, and a tailor named William Lyne, proceeded to exact a toll on all who passed over the dam or bridge, much to the irritation of local citizens.

The silting of Lymington River

Ship owners were also upset as the dam effectively prevented the scouring action of the tides, causing the river and Lymington Harbour to silt up. 

In 1795 it was noted that the mud building up in the channel had "rendered it already very narrow; and will probably in a few years, so completely choke it up, as to make it unnavigable by any ships of considerable burden."

The causeway was taken over by the railway company who continued to collect tolls until they were bought out by Hampshire County Council in 1955. Tolls were discontinued in 1958.

Today silting in the harbour as a result of the dam still occurs. Before the causeway was built it is said that the river was tidal as far as Brockenhurst.

Making the King wait!

In 1899 the second Lord Montagu was driving King Edward VII on one of his first car rides and at the Tollbridge was made to wait by the gatekeeper and landlord, who was annoyed after someone had sped across without paying earlier in the day! The King found the matter highly amusing!

Find out more about the history of Lymington and the New Forest at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery.

Learn more about Local History here.

Images: Lymington in Old Picture Postcards / Steve Elson Photography

Information: Lymington: A Pictorial Past by Brian J Down / Lymington in Old Picture Postcards / Wikipedia

Lymington's Malt House, the Centre of Lymington's Community

Since 1948 the Community Centre has provided Lymington with a valuable and flexible hub for culture, entertainment and education.

As Lymington prepares for the LOVE your Community Centre fundraising day on Saturday 5 October, let us look back for a moment at the history of our fabulous town hub. (More about Saturday's exciting activities here). 

On the corner of Cannon Street and New Street in Lymington is situated the Lymington Community Centre, which for over 70 years has provided our town with a valuable and flexible hub for culture, entertainment and education. Once an old malt house, the Centre has grown over the years and today's fundraising campaign will see it flourish further, ensuring it remains a useful and important centre for future generations.

The Old Malt House

With a distinctive cowl on its roof, the Centre building originally formed part of a Malt House for brewing. At the time of the wars with Revolutionary France, many French refugees and Royalists (émigrés) settled in and around Lymington. A band of 400 émigré soldiers, commanded by Colonel Rothalier, occupied the Malt House, adjacent stables and a long row of buildings that once stood opposite.

In June 1795, émigré soldiers took part in an ill-fated attempt to regain a foothold in Frane. The Quiberon Bay expedition was unsuccessful, poor planning and leadership, along with treachery and divided loyalities among the ranks, led to the invasion being a complete disaster. After a period of hosting French loyalist refugees, the conclusion of hostilities with Napoleon in 1915 saw Lymington settle back to some quiet normality.

The Malt House saw a variety of uses over the years but increasingly became dilapidated. 

After the Second World War, a Lymington Community Association was founded by Robert Hole. The aim was to to find a building in which both cultural and other activities could be housed in one centre, at this time many activities were already being run in halls and rooms around the town.

Robert Hole acquired the old malt house and a 3/4 acre site in New Street (for £1,500), plus four ex-RAF huts.

1948 - Lymington Community Centre is born!

From 1946, work began to create a 'Centre' for Lymington. Additions were made to the old Malt House and inside the Malt Hall was completely renovated. Lymington's Community Centre was first opened in 1948.

The Wellington Wing was added. Then a carpark. Later the Robert Hole Memorial Wing.

In 1952 Lymington Community Centre was featured in Punch magazine as the 'Community Centre of the Day.'

In 1960 Lymington Community Centre was on TV, with a visit from Southern Television, and in 1962 it hosted the BBC Any Questions radio programme.

In June 2007 a new flexible hall arrangement known as the Fuller McLellan Hall was opened to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Centre. Funding for two halls was possible because of two generous legacies from Miss Daphnie Fuller and Mrs Joyce McLellan.

Find out more about the history of the Lymington Community Centre here.

Lymington Community Centre today

Today the Lymington Community Centre provides something for everybody and contributes enormously to the local area, offering both recreational and educational facilities to all, always vibrant and busy - it's used and enjoyed by up to 4,000 people every week.

Find out more about Lymington Community Centre.

There are now plans to refurbish and develop Lymington Community Centre to increase income and decrease maintenance costs by renovating some areas and connecting all the separate buildings together, to simplify getting from one area to another and making all the activities on offer more accessible to everybody.

Find out more about the fundraising and plans here. 

This Saturday 5 October there will be fundraising activities at the Centre and at the Sea Water Baths - find out more here.

Information and pictures: Lymington Community Centre
Additional information: Rotary Club of Lymington

The prize-winning Lymington Town Band

The Lymington 'Temperance Band' that made national headlines and played for the King! 

Lymington Town Band has been in continuous existence since 1883 when twelve musicians met at the Anglesey Temperance Hotel (now the Thomas Tripp) to consider forming a band.

They held their first practice in Pardey's Dairy, Buckland, and later moved to a room at the Sea Water Baths, then in a small hall at Woodside, before settling at the Literary Institute where the band practised until recently.

Remarkably, the band was never out of prize lists at festivals during its first 80 years, making national headlines. They even played before King Edward VII - who thought it was a huge joke that they should call themselves at Temperance Band!

The picture shows the band in 1910 outside Mr W Batts' house in New Street. Mr Batts, on the far left in the straw boater, was a tireless worker for Lymington Hospital. Seated in the centre is the bandmaster Hinckley, who subsequently joined the Canadian Army.

Some years ago, after being awarded a second prize in a competition in Rhyl, Wales, their motor coach had a puncture in Brockenhurst. They were due to lead the Lymington mayor's church parade. The procession moved off and the bandsmen caught up by sprinting along New Street and playing at the rear!!

Nowadays Lymington Town Band rehearses every Monday from 7.30-9.30pm at the Lymington British Legion, Haig House (just off the High Street). If you are an accomplished musician and are thinking about expanding your horizons, give the band a call, or come along for a taster session - they are particularly keen to increase their bass section and percussionists.

Lymington Town Band has performed over the summer at the Bandstand in Bath Road park, at the Summer Spectacular at Woodside, at Brockenhurst Station and at a Last Night of the Proms concert in Milford on Sea. Keep an eye on our Events Calendar for more concerts, including their Christmas Concert.

Find contact details for Lymington Town Band here.

Image & Information: Lymington in Old Picture Postcards

Weekly What's On in Lymington and the New Forest

If you don't already receive our Weekly What's On e-newsletter (including many community events which are free or low charge), do sign up now below, it's so easy! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Our Events Calendar is the most comprehensive all year round "what's on" in the New Forest, there are new events added every day and it's free to add your own events. 

A school for Lymington from Anne St Barbe

Today's Museum and Art Gallery was once Lymington's National School.

There were several private schools around Lymington by the end of the nineteenth century, with a small minority of less fortunate pupils whose fees were met by the Fulford and Anne Burrard charities.

In 1834, Mrs Anne St Barbe, a widow from the well established local business family, generously donated the sum of £220 to purchase a half acre site off New Lane on which to build a school for poor Lymington children. She also provided money for houses for the schoolmaster and mistress.

The National School was opened on 11 January 1836, built to accommodate 160 boys taught by male teachers and 120 girls by spinsters. There were also pupil teachers apprenticed for five years.

Children had to pay just a penny a week, doubled to tuppence in 1879. 

Truancy was a problem in Victorian times, made worse by children having to walk long distances in foul weather. 

Extra classrooms were added in 1879 and an Infant School was built on the opposite side of School Lane in 1888. By 1909 both became a Church of England school.

Today, the National School is the St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery...

Images: St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery

Information: 'Then & Now, Lymington and Pennington', by Brian J Down. 

Santa's new sleigh for 2018, built in Lymington!

Lymington Rotary's new sleigh built at Peter Cooper Ltd

For over 40 years the Rotary Santa Sleigh has become well known in the Lymington, Pennington, Sway, Hordle and Milford on Sea areas, bringing joy and pleasure to the many generations of children at Christmas time. At the same time, many thousands of pounds have been raised by the elves manning the sleigh, funds that have helped many in the local community.

In 2018 a new sleigh was constructed in the workshops at Peter Cooper Ltd as the old sleigh failed it's MOT (you see, even Father Christmas has these problems...!). It was unveiled at the Lymington Christmas Lights and Shopping evening.

The history of Lymington's Santa Sleigh

In 1973, a Rotary Santa Float at Lymington was first seen in Lymington. Initially it was just a flatbed trailer with a Christmas tree on each corner which was built by Dr Basil Thornton and Alan Figgures. A 12v car battery powered lights and sound system. Santa sat on a simple wooden chair in the middle. A cunning mechanism using car trafficators waggled the reindeer’s ears and flashed it’s nose when a coin was inserted into a slot.

In 1978, Mike Corbin had the idea for a real Santa Sleigh. Mike was a gifted boat builder in his spare time and he brought his skills to bear by designing a new Santa Sleigh - The construction took place in a barn with the help of a small army of Elves, including Frank Johnston, Bob Tanner, Frank Carter, Ted Chalk and others, who cut, sawed and sandpapered the marine plywood to Mike's specifications then put the bits together before finally painting on the bright red colour.

Since then, Peter Cooper Ltd has maintained the Santa Float which involves servicing bearings, tyres, tow bar connections, lighting and sound system. When required Coopers have also regularly repainted the Santa Float, provided petrol for the generator and about 25 tins of sweets for distribution by Santa at no cost to the Club.

The Santa Sleigh has appeared each year since then to the delight and expectation of everybody both young and 'not so young'.

The Rotary Club of Lymington

Rotary Club of Lymington runs two big community events annually to raise significant funds for local and international causes.  It is a wonderful, inclusive, social network for like minded individuals who feel able to "give something back" and serve their community, and who value the friendship of fellow members too.

New members are always welcome. Meetings are held on Wednesday lunch time 12.45 for 1pm in the Robert Hole Room at the Lymington Centre, except for the last Wednesday in the month when the meeting is held in the evening to make the Club more accessible to working Rotarians. The caterer at the Lymington Centre is well known local chef Fiona Hill of Real Food Catering who provides an excellent menu.

Evening meetings are held at the South Lawn Hotel in Milford on Sea: 6.30 for 7pm finishing by 8.30pm. South Lawn Hotel has an excellent reputation and is a well recommended hotel for visitors from other parts of the country. Several times a year Friends and Family are invited to evening meetings too.

Find out more about the Rotary Club of Lymington here.

Find here Christmas Events and things to do in the New Forest and Lymington area.