A Civic Society for Romsey, Hampshire UK and surrounding villages

6. Trading rules / highways and bridges

There were repeated rulings for restricting trade, especially about Sunday trading. It was recorded that any tradesman opening his shop
to sell wares on a Sunday [except on great necessity] shall forfeit twelve pence for every person he shall sell unto, later raised to five shillings for every offence

As part of the protectionist policies, there were restrictions on tradesmen who had not been apprenticed here, or had already been granted his freedom of the town

Special attention was given to the selling of beer or ale, and traders had to be licensed. Licences were granted only to ‘those whom the mayor aldermen and burgesses think fit to license’. Repeated attempts were made to limit the number of ale-houses to six. Furthermore licensees were each required to take a poor child apprentice ‘or else not be licensed’. This scheme did not work very well and fell into disuse.

There were also restrictions on the sale of tobacco, arising from royal monopolies that the corporation of Romsey had to enforce.

Highways and Bridges

Problems concerning the state of highways and bridges are recorded. The corporation did not have direct responsibility for roads and highways, but became involved from time to time. Thus in 1673 they required ‘the highway called the Causeway leading to Great Bridge and the King's highway called Middlebridge Street be sufficiently repaired by 1st November upon pain of 40 shillings.’ Such requirements were not necessarily met.

A few years later, in 1688, Greatbridge and Littlebridge needed repair. Little Bridge was in Greatbridge Road, where the railway embankment crosses over. About 200 people were required to pay towards the repairs in sums ranging from a maximum of 4s 3d down to a minimum of 1d. £5 12s 9d was raised. Middlebridge was a perennial problem. Romsey always claimed that it was a county bridge and not therefore their liability. One occasion when the matter came to a head was in 1675, and the mayor went to Winchester to argue the town’s case. His expenses read as follows
Journey, horse hire, and expenses to Winton, to attend the Quarter Sessions for the Town and being excused from the repair of Middlebridge, drinking a bottle of wine with the Clerke of the Peace, drawing the Case and Breviate for Councell £1 1s 6d

Undoubtedly this money was a worthwhile investment, for the town was not required to repair Middlebridge

In 1740, there was concern about the Hundred Bridge, the bridge over the stream between the Market Place and The Hundred. The record reads ‘The owners of Hundred Bridge presented for neglecting to keep a rail or fence against the water being dangerous for passengers.’ Well and good if only the ‘owners’ could be positively identified.

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