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Ringwood Town Trail

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Ringwood Town Trail

This Town Trail around Ringwood’s old town centre, designated a Conservation area, has been compiled by The Ringwood Society. For more details about the society and how to become a member click here.

The Ringwood Society Town Trail

1. The trail begins at the Ringwood Gateway building next to the Furlong Car Park

Ringwood Gateway Building

1. The trail begins at the Ringwood Gateway building next to the Furlong Car Park

Ringwood Gateway Building
Ringwood Gateway Building

2. Cross the road by the bus-stops to the old chapel immediately in front of you

Built in 1727, the Meeting House is a fine example of a non-conformist chapel complete with galleries and box pews. It is now an exhibition and local history centre open every morning except Sundays. Entry is free. You might like to pop in for a look of the history of Ringwood displayed in the galleries.

2. Cross the road by the bus-stops to the old chapel immediately in front of you

Built in 1727, the Meeting House is a fine example of a non-conformist chapel complete with galleries and box pews. It is now an exhibition and local history centre open every morning except Sundays. Entry is free. You might like to pop in for a look of the history of Ringwood displayed in the galleries.

Ringwood Gateway Building

3. Walk past the front of the Inn on the Furlong Pub, and down the narrow one-way Meeting House Lane which brings you to the Market Place

Ringwood Gateway Building

3. Walk past the front of the Inn on the Furlong Pub, and down the narrow one-way Meeting House Lane which brings you to the Market Place

Ringwood Gateway Building
Ringwood Gateway Building

4. Turn and head down the narrow High Street pausing to look at the shop on the corner of Lynes Lane

This is a Victorian rebuild of the old Market House which once stood in the middle of the Market Place until 1867 (see image below). If you look carefully at the side facing on to Lynes Lane you will see the reuse of the ornamental facade of its ground floor arches, stone dressings and pediment.

4. Turn and head down the narrow High Street pausing to look at the shop on the corner of Lynes Lane

This is a Victorian rebuild of the old Market House which once stood in the middle of the Market Place until 1867 (see image below). If you look carefully at the side facing on to Lynes Lane you will see the reuse of the ornamental facade of its ground floor arches, stone dressings and pediment.

Ringwood Gateway Building

5. Continue along the High Street to the junction where Christchurch Road, High Street, Kingsbury Lane and Southampton Road meet, known as Fridays Cross

The derivation of the name Fridays Cross remains shrouded in the mists of time, for it is many centuries old. The circular iron seat here features cut-out images reflecting aspects of the town crest; leaping stags and oak leaves symbolise Ringwood’s links to the New Forest and salmon and water represent the River Avon. Turn right beneath the arch down Kingsbury Lane.

Ringwood Gateway Building

5. Continue along the High Street to the junction where Christchurch Road, High Street, Kingsbury Lane and Southampton Road meet, known as Fridays Cross

The derivation of the name Fridays Cross remains shrouded in the mists of time, for it is many centuries old. The circular iron seat here features cut-out images reflecting aspects of the town crest; leaping stags and oak leaves symbolise Ringwood’s links to the New Forest and salmon and water represent the River Avon. Turn right beneath the arch down Kingsbury Lane.

Ringwood Gateway Building
Ringwood Gateway Building

6. A small George V postbox sits at the end of the lane where you will turn right along the Bickerley

This semi-rural piece of open land, now owned by the town council, was for centuries land with common rights. Here the Avon Valley footpath leads over the water meadows to Christchurch 9 ½ miles away. The route of the old railway line, now the Castleman Trailway, also passes from Crow towards Wimborne here.

6. A small George V postbox sits at the end of the lane where you will turn right along the Bickerley

This semi-rural piece of open land, now owned by the town council, was for centuries land with common rights. Here the Avon Valley footpath leads over the water meadows to Christchurch 9 ½ miles away. The route of the old railway line, now the Castleman Trailway, also passes from Crow towards Wimborne here.

Ringwood Gateway Building

7. Walk past the attractive Bickerley Terrace and through a pocket park with a path that winds by the Millstream

Continue up Strides Lane. The footpath widens to a road and you can begin to glimpse the Parish church rising above the roofs ahead.

Ringwood Gateway Building

7. Walk past the attractive Bickerley Terrace and through a pocket park with a path that winds by the Millstream

Continue up Strides Lane. The footpath widens to a road and you can begin to glimpse the Parish church rising above the roofs ahead.

Ringwood Gateway Building
Ringwood Gateway Building

8 (i). Turn left along West Street. Over a hundred years ago the right-hand side of this road consisted almost entirely of thatched cottages, with the notable exception of Monmouth House

The plaque on this house records that it was here that the Duke of Monmouth was held after his abortive rebellion in 1685, and from where he unsuccessfully wrote to his uncle King James II begging for mercy. Next door the Old Cottage is an attractive example of the timber framed cottages that were once common along Ringwood’s streets.

8 (i). Turn left along West Street. Over a hundred years ago the right-hand side of this road consisted almost entirely of thatched cottages, with the notable exception of Monmouth House

The plaque on this house records that it was here that the Duke of Monmouth was held after his abortive rebellion in 1685, and from where he unsuccessfully wrote to his uncle King James II begging for mercy. Next door the Old Cottage is an attractive example of the timber framed cottages that were once common along Ringwood’s streets.

Ringwood Gateway Building

8 (ii). Cross the pedestrian bridge into Jubilee Gardens and view Ringwood’s bridges

The first small brick bridge spans the narrow Millstream, whereas the second three-arched stone bridge crosses the wide River Avon on its journey down to the sea at Christchurch.

Ringwood Gateway Building

8 (ii). Cross the pedestrian bridge into Jubilee Gardens and view Ringwood’s bridges

The first small brick bridge spans the narrow Millstream, whereas the second three-arched stone bridge crosses the wide River Avon on its journey down to the sea at Christchurch.

Ringwood Gateway Building
Ringwood Gateway Building

8 (iii). Returning to West Street, cross the road and continue back towards the Market Place

The bus depot and row of three shops stand on the site of Carter’s brewery, which produced Ringwood Ales until 1923. No more beer was brewed commercially in the town until 1978, when the present Ringwood Brewery was founded on the southern edge of town. The elegant three-storeyed Bridge House was once the home of the owners of the brewery, the Carter family.

8 (iii). Returning to West Street, cross the road and continue back towards the Market Place

The bus depot and row of three shops stand on the site of Carter’s brewery, which produced Ringwood Ales until 1923. No more beer was brewed commercially in the town until 1978, when the present Ringwood Brewery was founded on the southern edge of town. The elegant three-storeyed Bridge House was once the home of the owners of the brewery, the Carter family.

Ringwood Gateway Building

9. Continue back to the Market Place and the Jubilee Lamp which was erected by public subscription in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee

At ground level nearby is a human sundial, refurbished in 2021. If it’s a sunny day, try telling the time by this ancient method! 

The Parish Church was built between 1853-1855, but earlier churches have stood here since Saxon times. An indication of the site is given by the height of the graveyard above street level, as generations of burials have successively raised the ground. Note the iron box set in the old church wall. Originally this would have been kept inside the church to safeguard parish registers and other important documents.

Ringwood Gateway Building

9. Continue back to the Market Place and the Jubilee Lamp which was erected by public subscription in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee

At ground level nearby is a human sundial, refurbished in 2021. If it’s a sunny day, try telling the time by this ancient method! 

The Parish Church was built between 1853-1855, but earlier churches have stood here since Saxon times. An indication of the site is given by the height of the graveyard above street level, as generations of burials have successively raised the ground. Note the iron box set in the old church wall. Originally this would have been kept inside the church to safeguard parish registers and other important documents.

Ringwood Gateway Building
Ringwood Gateway Building

10. Back at the Market Place, turn left by the Star Inn up Star Lane which brings you into the Furlong Shopping Centre

This attractive development of shops blends well with the existing buildings. The bronze sculpture of the Mare and Foal by sporting sculptress Priscilla Hann encapsulates Ringwood’s traditional links with the New Forest and its ponies and provides a delightful focal point to the Centre.

The area now occupied by Waitrose supermarket was previously the site of the weekly cattle market. The three-storey building, now a restaurant, was formerly Frampton’s corn and seed merchant’s stores.

10. Back at the Market Place, turn left by the Star Inn up Star Lane which brings you into the Furlong Shopping Centre

This attractive development of shops blends well with the existing buildings. The bronze sculpture of the Mare and Foal by sporting sculptress Priscilla Hann encapsulates Ringwood’s traditional links with the New Forest and its ponies and provides a delightful focal point to the Centre.

The area now occupied by Waitrose supermarket was previously the site of the weekly cattle market. The three-storey building, now a restaurant, was formerly Frampton’s corn and seed merchant’s stores.

Ringwood Gateway Building