The first Cobden Bridge was built in 1883 by the National Liberal Land Company (NLLC), the developers of Bitterne Park estate. The bridge was built to link the new estate with central Southampton and spanned the river from St. Denys Road (west) to Bitterne Triangle. It was immediately popular as, unlike Northam Bridge, Cobden Bridge was toll free. It was named after Richard Cobden, the 19th century Liberal and free trade campaigner. The original iron bridge (image 1) was replaced with the present stone bridge (image 2)in 1926-28.
1. Cobden Bridge
The original iron bridge photographed in c.1905
2. Cobden Bridge
The current stone bridge built in 1926-28. Photograph, c.2000
Further reading:
Public Life in Southampton, Volume 1, by James Lemon, p155-56. (HS/l)
Public Life in Southampton, Volume 2, by James Lemon, p169-170. (HS/l)
Stories of Southampton Streets, by A. G. K. Leonard, p79-82. (HS/h)
The Story of Bitterne Park, by John Edgar Mann, p32-34. (HS/h.BIT)
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