Walks in England: Crossing The Old Shoreham Tollbridge

[@michaelwhite8031]

I love to see this defused golden light. Charming video !

[@michelelavender1967]

Richard,Im in Greece but I want to go home to my beloved Shoreham,I have walked where you are one million times when I was young,you disturb my mind and make me long for the past and to return.Walks right up the Coombs road and into Syeyning and Bramber or up to lancing college ,sometimes with bicycle,there used to be so many owls sitting on the phone wires.My son and I used to lie down in the fields near the river and watch the sky,there were so many Skylarks in those days,they are thrilling,coombs farm little church I love,what about the Kings Head pub on the roundabout in Shoreham,I used to go in there,you could go in full of muddy boots and muddy dog,the landlord was a quiet honey,and by the way a bus fell off the old toll bridge once many years back,thankyou so much,you make me very happy,I liked the Brighton sea front too.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much for watching and all those amazing memories. Thank you for sharing them. You had a lovely time there I can see.

[@janwarrington]

2015 late summers evening, my wife and I were at the bridge and had the delight of seeing a magnificent (and huge) Osprey slowly flying down the course of the river. Over our heads at the river only some 20 feet above us !......It was high tide - we saw it dive into the water twice, undoubtedly after one of the many grey mullet which you see when the water is clear - it was that day. The RSPB advised us it was most likely a female on her way back to Africa after being in Cumbria or Scotland to breed. Keep your eyes peeled = you never know what you may see ! Great video Richard. Many thanks.

[@RichardVobes]

Wow - what a terrific account - thanks so much for sharing!

[@LynnB_Ky]

A lovely bridge, we walk across often; very popular. Glad you didn't encounter too many people. We enjoyed this one!

[@RichardVobes]

It is such an iconic bridge.

[@LynnB_Ky]

@@RichardVobes I wonder if there are any other similar wooden bridges in the UK

[@anthonyfrost2530]

town of my birth , in about 1956 when most traffic , apart from heavy goods vehicles used that bridge there was an amazing accident here , at night during a wild storm a double decker bus was blown off the bridge into the river , luckily it landed in mud as the tide was out. No one was killed , but there were injuries of course , there were very few people out on that wild night . The injured would have been taken to the hospital which was not far away, i was born there in 1938. The river north of here was famous for flounder fishing , i went with my uncle, Charlie (Parsons) , yes same name as the inventor of the steam turbine engine that powered the dreadnought battleships etc.

[@colonelcragratty7110]

I lived in Worthing from my birth in 1948 to 1969 and remember driving over this bridge from when I passed my test in 1965 to when I left Worthing, and rememebr paying the 6 pence fee. I think they had traffic lights to allow the cars across one way at a time. There was a toll booth at the end which is now gone.

[@ramibu239]

This area reminded me a bit of the Oregon coast around Florence (1 hr from Eugene). At low tide many of the inlets around there look just like this w/ the mud flats. I couldn't imagine vehicles ever driving on that bridge!

[@RichardVobes]

I can't quite remember car driving over it myself.

[@TheRamblingsofBry]

What a lovely and interesting walk over an amazing structure, really enjoy this, thankyou.

[@RichardVobes]

Cool banana - love the early morning walks. :)

[@CosmicClaire99]

I must have been over this bridge a couple of hundred times on foot mostly before the new river crossing was built with the massive cutting through the Downs on the east side when I was at school nearby. Even went to the Red Lion once or twice although I was definitely a bit on the young side at the time!

[@SimonBrown]

Just watched this on my TV. Well done :-). Beautiful early morning light. I love that time of day when everything is fresh and new. The bridge looks great - it's hard to imagine it with traffic on it.

[@RichardVobes]

It's a strange bridge - from a distance it looks confusing, but as you get closer, it begins to engage you. Thanks Simon. Glad it looked good on the TV. I will be trying out a Gopro Hero4 in the videos later this week.

[@CosmicClaire99]

@@RichardVobes It's incredible to think that I walked on those very boards fifty years ago!

[@123keswick]

Thanks for getting up early, to bring us the people and places of Britain at its best. And at the end another walk to follow.

[@RichardVobes]

My pleasure, Graham. Today's early morning weather is a bit bleak but hoping the sun will shine later.

[@kevinpredragovich2737]

Sure wish I could come join you on these walks. So relaxing and peaceful.

[@carolinecraib7299]

Richard thanks for this lovely video. I used to live on old Shoreham road just up from the Red lion pub. I walked the toll bridge many times and along the footpath on both sides of the river. My mum and I used to pick blackberries along the old train tracks. This brought back many memories. I’ve been living in the U.S.A for the past 40 years. Is Saint Nicholas Church still there? Would love to see history on that very old church.

[@RichardVobes]

I will have to go and make a video about it at some point. Thanks so much for watching.

[@Johnstone72]

Another Gem, already planning a trip down. Boiled eggs and a flask O tea. All set.

[@PortsladeBySea]

I often walk our dog across the Shoreham wooden bridge. Can’t imagine buses, lorries and cars using it! There are many varieties of lichen living on the surface of the timber. With my £5, factor x 50 and x 60 lenses, with LED lighting, you can see an amazing world made from algae and fungus. Most people are unaware of it’s existence and beauty. I suspect they like the moist, bright, environment and clean air.

[@RichardVobes]

Do a video with me about lichen!

[@marcoscu]

Many thanks for another great video, enjoyable and informative, as always.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Mark - so glad you enjoyed it. More to follow.

[@elainechubb971]

Another beautiful video--thank you. You chose a beautiful morning--the clouds and the light are gorgeous. Re the airport: My mother and I went on a week's vacation to Jersey, flying on a smallish plane from Shoreham Airport! Very convenient, as she lived in Shoreham. This was about 30 years ago or more. Small charter planes could use it, and I don't think it had a set-up for international flights (passport control and customs), but not a problem for the Channel Islands.

[@allanQuincey]

I used to cross the bridge there and back twice a day, but I am sure it was after 1970. I can remember the toll keepers, but think they went before the bridge was closed, the railway closing before the bridge. There was no problem crossing, single lane with crossing bays. I also remember the banana lorry, which went over the bridge, and the news telling us not to eat any of them!!!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video! I love that bridge, seems mad to think of all the traffic on it.

[@margaretsear3719]

Loved this about Shoreham Toll Bridge, cycled over it many a time back in the 50's and 60's bit scary when a double decker bus came the other way. The cost for cyclist and walkers was 1d. 6d. for cars. Did you know about the time the bus was blown over the bridge? I think it was 1st January 1947.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Amazing that it was a road bridge. I did read about the bus that toppled in. Terrible thing.,

[@timw8518]

One of my favorite places in Sussex. I used to ride my bike there as a lad in the 1970s to go fishing. I have a very vague early memory of cars using it.

[@RichardVobes]

Golly - yes, hard to believe cars used to trundle across it.

[@simontay4851]

was a new bridge built in 1970 for vehicles to cross the river?

[@1080-r2l]

great video

[@Duffy512]

Very interesting video. You are very lucky to live in the United Kingdom and have such great treasures that you can walk on and see today.

[@RichardVobes]

Yes, I forget that other do not have such wonders on their doorstep. I think many Brits take this all for granted.

[@jitulvslife03]

@@RichardVobes So true!

[@ReverendFlatus]

My parents had friends who lived at Tortington near Arundel and we would often visit on a Sunday, crossing this bridge on the way. It was indeed sixpence (in old money) to cross, and if I remember right, that covered the return journey as well!

[@RichardVobes]

That must have been a while ago - we are luck that it is still standing for people to enjoy, and now free!

[@ReverendFlatus]

Well I got that wrong! I spoke to my Dad yesterday and he said it was sixpence both ways.

[@RichardVobes]

ReverendFlatus They got money from you even then! :)

[@AlexG-zw4yk]

The airport in the war was used as a sort of emergancy airport and used to hold aircraft for reconisence. An interesting piece of history about the airport is that a german pilot flew the nazis brand new fokke wolf 190 fighter plane into shoreham as he went to the local lancing college and didnt want to fight in the war

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks for that - I aim to do something about the airport, so that is a fascinating tit-bit to pick up on!

[@MrGreatplum]

Beautiful bridge - I’m amazed it ever took serious motor traffic! Certainly one way of stopping any serious boat traffic going upstream!

[@RichardVobes]

MrGreatplum That's true.

[@jwardroper]

My wife swam across the river there , because I told her it would be alright, I hadn't done it myself at the time, but I've plenty of bullets dug up from the range there on the airport

[@Wheels-Wheels-Wheels]

I've just watched a video about Shoreham's Mystery Towers and it is thought that the concrete from the dismantled tower [the other one being the Nab Tower at Benbridge] was used to form the walkway upon the bank where you started your video.

[@ivormacadam]

Lovely video, Richard, but may I add a few details? Firstly, Shoreham Airport (not "Brighton") was one of the first, if not the very first airport in the world. Historical. Of course, with only one, where would you fly to? Cecil Pashley and others began flying in this area, some say before the Wright Brothers got airborne. There is a lovely picture of a Southdown double-decker Bus coming off the bridge on the front cover of one of the books about Southdown Buses. The premises you can see is the Ricardo Consulting Engineers site, which has been there since about 1900. The main building is always referred to as "The Kremlin". I worked there for about six years, the happiest days of my working life. It's a very famous company. The bridge carried the A27 before it was diverted in 1970 over the new bridge and on to the Shoreham by-pass. The level crossing for the Steyning Railway line appears to have been removed, sadly, and there is a nice story about it. The blokes collected the Tolls at that point, and for many years refused to take a holiday, until they were forced to by British Railways. The takings on the Tolls doubled at least. Apparently, they had super-deep pockets in their trews, and most drivers (having been waiting for some time to pay their toll) did not bother to take the ticket, which was a receipt. I had all this on good authority from a British Railways employee who must remain nameless, but we called "father in law". I hope that has added to your splendid production. Cheers, Ivor Macadam.

[@JensGardenAdventures]

My Dad told me it was originally built by welsh miners while on strike, not sure how true that is though lol. Jen

[@RichardVobes]

Not heard that one! :)

[@JensGardenAdventures]

@@RichardVobes I'm not convinced lol my Dad also said that Shoreham and Abergavenny had a rivalry lol but haven't found anything on that when I looked. Probably just whispers and it's changed over the years. He was a Welsh man in the heart of England so he could have been winding me up lol

[@cathybonner9437]

Thanks Richard I've now found out WHERE the Downs link is in Shoreham! Been to the airport numerous times watching the planes but haven't walked along that footpath over the toll bridge. That's for next time

[@RichardVobes]

My pleasure, Cathy!

[@cathybonner9437]

@@RichardVobes I was down your way at Bluebird Cafe, Ferring yesterday afternoon. Took me over an hour to drive to but well worth it as I met a lot of new friends. Think I prefer Sea Lane cafe out of the two. Could meet you and Julia there one day

[@JulioTijuana01]

It would be nice if on walks like these you could describe some of the smells around you. I know smells are tricky but just in a general sense. I'm guessing the bridge has a particular smell because most likely the wood must have some sort of treatment to protect it .

[@RichardVobes]

Julio Tijuana Well that is an interesting request. I am guessing that there was a salty fraquence in the air because of the sea but I couldn't smell anything on the wood.

[@ivormacadam]

Triv Quiz question: Can you name any famous people born in Shoreham? Not many, but I recall that singer Leo Sayer was born there. Do I win? Cheers, Ivor Macadam.

[@allanQuincey]

The Kings Head went years ago, a disgrace, like the lambing barn before. v. Michele Lavender, comment below.

[@anna-lisagirling7424]

Besy kind of airport, ever! : )

[@RichardVobes]

Who wants a giant airport anyway?

[@simontay4851]

How do you get from london to brighton by train now? Is there an alternative route?

[@RichardVobes]

There are direct trains from London to Brighton that do not go via Shoreham.

[@grimpeursdusud1533]

@@RichardVobes But trains along the (now) Downs Link were the first trains from London to Brighton before Clayton tunnel opened, until then it was horse and carriage from Hassocks which still has traces of when it was a terminus.

[@elainechubb971]

There is also a branch line from the main London-Brighton line that heads west to Hove, Shoreham, and Worthing--not sure if it goes farther. When my mother lived in Shoreham, I often took that line from Gatwick Airport on my visits from America!

[@ivormacadam]

Main London to Brighton line, via Croydon and Haywards Heath. The Steyning line opened before the more direct line. Cheers, Ivor Macadam.

[@ivormacadam]

@@elainechubb971 It goes to Portsmouth, Southampton and beyond. The main south coast railway line to the west. Ivor Macadam.

[@MD1936]

Nice walk however one error if I may. Tides go up and down, not in and out.

[@RichardVobes]

The tides here definitely appear to go in and out - and most people refer to them like that so probably they know what I mean, even if not technically correct. :) Thanks for watching.