Tuesday 21 December 2010

Castle on the The Town Bridge


This unique picture of a busy shipping scene near the Town Bridge was the work of William Brand and was published in 1795. The Corporation Buildings on the right were erected in 1772 and the Assembly Rooms had not yet been built. It also shows the old wooden bridge with its lamp standards, but the most remarkable thing about the picture is the appearance in it of the castle like tower at the West end of the bridge , from which Stanbow, or “Stonebow” Lane probably derived its name. This is the only known picture to show this structure. On page 251 of Pishey Thompson's History of Boston he writes "The bridge being in a very ruinous state, and in danger of falling, was taken down in 1629, and a new one erected. This bridge had a stone gateway standing across it, and it is probable from this circumstance, that the lane called Stanbow Lane, which would be very near the western extremity of the bridge, has derived its name."
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3 comments:

  1. bob smith24 December 2010 at 15:58

    not sure about that castle billy it doesnt appear on old maps from that time could the artist have invented it

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  2. Billy25 December 2010 at 19:13

    I don't think it was a castle as such, on page 251 of Pishey Thompsons history of Boston he says,"The bridge being in a very ruinous state, and in danger of falling, was taken down in 1629, and a new one erected. This bridge had a stone gateway standing across it, and it is probable from this circumstance, that the lane called Stanbow Lane, which would be very near the western extremity of the bridge, has derived its name."

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  3. bob smith26 December 2010 at 10:31

    thanks billy sounds right.

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