Location Map
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  Castle Street runs eastwards towards the river Avon from the busy junction with Church Street and High Street at its western end to Bridge Street at the eastern.

It was at the south side of this junction with Church Street that the Old Town Hall was originally built in 1745/6 before it was removed, brick by brick, to its present location at the entrance to Saxon Square in the High Street in the mid-19th century.

The builders of the Old Town Hall had only to step across the street for their refreshement at Ye Olde George Inn which still boasts its historic courtyard proudly on the post which supports Olde George's head above the pavement. The east of these premises is bounded by Ducking Stool Lane which is here but a narrow alley overshadowed by both Inn and bank. As it curves its way eastwards to meet the Mill Stream and none other than the implement which lends it its very name, it broadens considerably.

Eastwards, just before the buildings on the south side of the street give way to the open green expanse of the King's Arms Bowling Green, stands the Old Court House where the mayor and officers of the corporation were annually sworn into office.

Behind and to the south of the Old Court House stands the mediaeval Christchurch or Twynham Castle - or rather the ruins of the castle; already long fallen into disuse and disrepair by the time of the Civil War, it was 'slighted' by the Roundheads to ensure its thick walls could never shelter those who would gainsay the will of the Parliamentary army.

Just inside the gate which guards the footpath to the castle stand the town stocks where justice for misdemenours was publicly administered, not only by the civil authorities, but doubtless also by the passing populace at large.

On the north side of the street, opposite the bowling green, stands the Kings Arms Hotel. This was built by George Rose MP as his private residence in 1801.

Not more than a hundred metres to the east of the gate stand the walls of the Constable's (sometime known as the 'Norman') House. It was the Constable who took charge of the nearby keep on its artificial mound ('motte') during the absence of the Lord of the Manor, and doubtless also had many duties to fulfil connected with it on behalf of his master at other times. Although long bereft of the shelter of their roof, and partially decayed, the medieaval walls are very much sufficiently intact for the observer to be able to visualise the building as it must have been when used. Rude though its accomodations seem to our modern eyes, it did possess its refinements - a fireplace of the most generouis proportions and a garderobe. Closer inspection also reveals finely worked stone to the reveals of the stone mullioned windows ornamented with the dog-tooth design which is the hallmark of the Norman conquerors. By its craftmanship, this was obviously no cottage but a building which advertised wealth and power to both townsman and visitor.

Eastwards again, but not far, for the Mill Stream bounds the Constable's House to the east and the road crosses the stream by means of Mill Stream Bridge, also known as Mews Bridge or Millham's Bridge at various times. Here Convent Walk takes its leasiurly path southwards towards Place Mill on Town Quay where the Mill Stream empties into the Stour having turned the great millwheel or otherwise. The walker must give way to the sluice which regulates the water level in the stream, the surplus spilling back into the Avon from whence it came, before the path curves gently west passing Priory Meadows and Priory Quay - also Priory Gardens on the far bank.

But here, Convent Walk picks its way between the waters of the stream and those of an arm of the Avon which is crossed by another bridge, Town Bridge by name. One the north side of the street, just before the bridge, stands the house known as Quartley's after the doctor and surgeon who once lived there. Town Bridge os one of three mediaeval bridges which the town once boasted, but it is now the sole survivor. Dr. Arthur Quartley was mayor of this place and, for a while, lent his name to the bridge as well as the house. Unable to cope with the growing demands of modern automobile traffic, Town Bridge had to be widened and the building which stood between it and Quartley's had to be demolished.

In crossing Town Bridge, one is entering onto what is an island formed by the two arms of the Avon hereabouts which join forces again to the east of Convent Meadows before meeting the Stour at the end of Clay Pool. To the south-west, the bridge affords fine views of the Mill Stream, the Constable's House, the castle and the tower of the Priory, particularly in the winter months when the trees are devoid of their green covering. Below the bridge, during the warmer months, may be seen the boat which is tethered against the flow in mid-stream for the benefit of fishermen who might be lucky enough to land one of the salmon which were in days of old commercially fished in much less sportsmanly manner by the netting the harbour.

Here, on the island, Castle Street meets its end, or rather the name does - the road continues eastwards and rejoins the mainland by means of Waterloo Bridge - but carrying with it the new name of Bridge Street and, if we are to follow it, carrying us to another page. Links
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