The historic Hampshire town of Fordingbridge dates back more than 1,500 years. Ron Wain takes a look back in time...

BY THE 13th century the rather quaint but functional name of 'Fordyngbrygge' was in widespread use.

This Saxon settlement, in the north-west edge of the New Forest in the Avon Valley, Hampshire, had a Ford and a bridge, hence the name.

The market town - recorded in the Domesday Book - went from strength to strength for 200 years.

But the larger markets at Salisbury and Ringwood drew trade away from the town, with its landmark bridge of seven arches, from the 16th century.

Finally, in the mid-19th century, the market at Fordingbridge faded away.

These days the place, which was used as a river crossing at least from Roman times, consists of small businesses and shops, along with a population of 5,000. Surrounded by countryside, Fordingbridge also has a strong agricultural presence.

Anthony Light and Gerald Ponting, the authors of Fordingbridge in Old Picture Postcards, wrote: "Although it has never been within the bounds of the New Forest, the town has always had close links with it.

"Most local landowners and householders held, and in many cases still hold, traditional Forest pasturage rights.

"The inhabitants of Forest-edge villages, such as Godshill, Frogham, Hyde and Gorley, have long looked to Fordingbridge as their town.

"For centuries they used its markets and shops, worshipped at its churches and took part in many of its processions and annual events."

Nowadays tourism is increasingly important for the commercial vitality of the suburban town, which has been controversially excluded under boundary plans for the New Forest National Park.

Whoever took these evocative pictures of the town's people over the past 100 years has done the current generations a favour.

They faithfully record a way of life now lost.

Fordingbridge in Old Picture Postcards GB ISBN 90 288 36764, published by European Library, is available at good book stores. Price: £9.95.