Isle of Wight river Yar bridge photos in new exhibition

A new display has been put together at West Wight Heritage Centre by the Freshwater and Totland Archive Group in collaboration with the Yarmouth Town Trust.

Before a bridge was built across the mouth of the River Yar in 1860, the only
means of crossing was by ferry boat.

These ferry boats were small rowing boats and passengers could have a long wait in all weathers for a boatman to become available to take them between Yarmouth and Freshwater.

The alternative was a four to six mile journey, often on foot, along narrow lanes to  Thorley, Wilmingham, Afton and then to the causeway at Freshwater, which was the nearest crossing point by land.

The Yar Bridge. (Image: West Wight Heritage Centre.)

In 1857, some influential gentlemen formed a company, the Yar Bridge
Company, with the aim of building a toll bridge and approach roads on raised embankments across the Yar between Norton in the west and Yarmouth in the east.

This bridge was a drawbridge in design and was officially opened in April
1860.

It greatly eased the journey between the two parishes and much development subsequently occurred in the area as a result.

In 1926, a swing bridge was built, replacing the original drawbridge.

The Isle of Wight County Council purchased the bridge from the Yar Bridge Company in 1933 and it was freed of tolls the following year.

This bridge was wide enough for traffic in one direction only, and traffic was controlled by the Isle of Wight’s first set of permanent traffic lights, which were installed in 1935.

The increase in traffic and weight of coaches and lorries meant that a new swing bridge had to be built in 1987 and this is the bridge in use today.

The display shows drawings and engravings of people crossing the river in
small boats in the early 19th century before the first bridge was built, and
photographs and information on the three bridges, built in 1860, 1926 and
1987.

The exhibition will be in place until the end of June.