IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Towngate Mews, Christchurch Road, RINGWOOD, BH24 1NB

Offices on Christchurch Road. http://www.ringwood.gov.uk/

The lack of road traffic is evident in this 1950s photo of Christchurch Road on this now busy street, where its junction with Hightown Road is just out of shot beyond the bend. The lady with the pram is more concerned with observing the photographer as she crosses the road, further demonstrating there was absolutely no danger of being mown down by road traffic at that time. The partially visible egg packing station sign on the side of the building to the left, is a reminder that the wartime governmental system of food distribution and rationing only ended in Britain in 1954. I should imagine the sign says "Ringwood Egg Packing Station No. 310". The next photo shows a similarly peaceful scene. Image

Difficult to imagine that this street was once a continuation of the main A338 road (note the pre-Worboys sign) between Salisbury, Ringwood, and Christchurch, where there was no other direct route in the 1950s. Today, the chap with the handcart would soon be in conflict with at least half a dozen or more vehicles behind him, despite this once main thoroughfare having since been reduced to a back road. Modern traffic density is such that the A338 now bypasses Ringwood entirely on a dual carriageway to Bournemouth that is also the main route today to Christchurch. The building with the large shop front on the left beyond the bend, has since been converted into a pair of semi-detached properties, whilst the building on the right has been replaced by a row of modern terraced houses. Today's Streetview: https://media.geograph.org.uk/files/7eabe3a1649ffa2b3ff8c02ebfd5659f/Xchurch_Rd_Ringwood-original.jpg

Christchurch Road forms part of the route of the B3347 as it heads out of the town of Ringwood.

This is the old route from Christchurch Road to The Bickerley, now replaced by a modern road to the south (left) of this picture. For a better view of the thatched cottage on the right, see Image

Pub at the corner of Christchurch and Hightown Roads. Internally, bar to right, with eating and drinking areas to left, pool room; TV and games machine. Cask ale on offer at my visit: Ringwood Best. For some customer comments, see http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/24/24149/Lamb_Inn/Ringwood

Entering Ringwood on the Christchurch Road, this junction has Hightown Road at right, and Coxstone Lane on the left. The latter leads to The Bickerley. Since the 1950s, the building on the left sold motorcycles but, within the past five years, it has changed to selling cars.

Postbox No. BH24 16.

This 'Type K' postbox (introduced in 1980) and phone box stand on the corner of Hightown Road, where I believe there may once have been a post office thirty-odd years ago. The box is emptied finally at 5:30pm on weekdays and at noon on Saturdays. Beyond, we look along Christchurch Road towards the town centre.