Turnpikes and Toll Bridges
Old Culham Bridge
Map published by Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton in 1899
Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland
Map published by Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton in 1899
Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland
The old Culham Bridge, and indeed the new one too, does not actually cross the main Thames river, but rather an artificial watercourse named on maps as either Back Water or more commonly Swift Ditch. Strictly speaking 'Back Water' is the name of a short subsiduary channel at the northern end just before it rejoins the Thames. The name 'Swift Ditch' possibly arose as the new channel provided both a shorter, and navigable route bypassing Abingdon. When the main navigation reverted to the river in 1790 the channel fell out of use and perhaps the name of 'Back Water' became applied to the whole reflecting its new status.
It is felt by many that this channel was cut in about 1052 by the monks of Abingdon Abbey under the direction of Abbot Ordric. A large area of land thus became an island being bounded by the main river and this new cut. It is called Andersey Island after St. Andrew's Church which once stood there and there is a lot of history associated with both this island and the new water course. Suffice it to say that the Abingdon to Dorchester road crossed by means of an ancient ford. A bridge was started in 1416 and opened in 1422, essentially forming the last link in the chain, all built at the same time and maintained by the same body, comprising the bridges in Abingdon, the causeway to Culham Bridge, and Culham Bridge itself. No toll was ever imposed for crossing the bridge, but there is a tollhouse on the Culham bank which is associated with the Abingdon to Dorchester turnpike road.
During the English Civil War the bridge was of great strategic importance. After the Royalists left Abingdon in May 1644 Parliamentarian forces seized the bridge, and attacked convoys making their way to Oxford. Royalists attempted to recapture the bridge and demolish it in 1645. This resulted in a skirmish on the 11th of January known as the battle of Culham Bridge, which they lost, and is commemorated by a metal plaque attached to the bridge parapet. During World War II two concrete pill boxes were built on the bridge, each housing anti-tank guns, and part of the parapet was removed to make way for them. The bridge was subsequently restored and was classified as an ancient monument also being awarded Grade II* status in July 1963.
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New Culham Bridge
Map published by O.S. Office, Southampton in 1933
Reproduced with the permission of the NLS
When the bridges in Abingdon were rebuilt in the late 1920s, the opportunity was taken to also replace the old Culham Bridge with a brand new one together with new approach roads. As can be seen on the map, the old bridge and approach roads were simply abandoned but Oxfordshire County Council, somewhat reluctantly, retained responsibility for the maintenance of the old bridge structure. The new road towards Culham moved a short way from the old tollhouse which still stands and is occupied as a private dwelling next to the footpath leading to the old bridge.
Extensive road improvement projects took place in the Oxford area between 1927 and 1935. These placed a heavy reliance on steam power to move materials and spoil utilising temporary track, with contractors either buying or hiring a number of 2'0" gauge steam engines. Laurence Waters featured some of this work in his book Oxfordshire railways in old photographs, which was published in 1989 by Alan Sutton Publishing, and he kindly made available new scans of two of the original negatives which show work proceeding on the new Culham Bridge.
The first photograph shows construction of the approach viaducts largely complete with work starting on the main arch. Work does seem to have temporarily stopped for the photographer however. Visible on the left is a Kerr Stuart 0-4-0 identified as being no. 4267 and on hire from Aubrey Watson Ltd of Westminster. What may appear to be a mark on the negative is in fact a row of reinforcing rods. The diminutive locomotive in the second image is an unidentified Kerr Stuart contractor's engine. Steam power is also in evidence in the form of the large vertical boiler which was used to power the temporary wooden crane.
Courtesy of Laurence Waters
Courtesy of Laurence Waters
