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Before the turnpiking of the road from Stratford to Droitwich and Bromsgrove in 1754, the traffic from Stratford to Coughton did not pass through Alcester but came via Great Alne to Coughton ford.
| This is shown clearly in the road map of
John Ogilby in the 17th century. This meant that at Great Alne the River Alne had to be
crossed. Coaches and other traffic would do so (close to the old railway station at
Gt.Alne) by means of a ford. It was not until 1912 that this was re-placed by a stone
bridge on what is called Pelham Lane. Local residents will remember that it was of narrow
construction, hardly suited to the needs of modern traffic. So it was that in the late 1980s it was removed and replaced by a wider and safer bridge.Nowadays the bridge mainly links Great Alne with Haselor and Walcote as well as to the back entrance to Great Alne Mill.
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| N.B. The Victoria County History for Warwickshire gives a different story. It quotes a document of 1625 in which 'Great Alne Bridge' is mentioned. By 1912, had this fallen into complete disrepair? There is a problem here to which the writer has no answer. Any ideas? | John Ogilby's road map of 1675 shows the highway from London to Bridgnorth crossing the Alne at Great Alne. The map suggests that it was by means of a ford, as at Coughton. The building by the Alne may be the 'Mother Huff Cap' inn. |
© G.E. Saville