Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge)

OK, using this this map you can select from one of the old map views and use the 'change of transparency' slider on the bottom left to view from old to new. You can clearly see that Smithford Street exited in line with High Street at Broadgate so the modern Precinct has been moved - I think it was to suit Gibson's plan to give Holy Trinity spire a central vista down the Precinct - though that's been subsequently spoiled by various additions!

Don't think so Helen? Market Street was further up, above British Home Stores of which only the basement remained. It wasn't there in 1946 Helen and in one 1950 view there's what appears to be a van parked bang in the middle of the island! It served little purpose at all as far as I can tell except maybe as access to the service area of the White Lion Hotel or British Restaurant in West Orchard.

This is something I did a while back, an old map and modern view combined at the left side, marked out opening of Smithford Street, KH CH are Kings Head and City Hotel. The right side shows the modern view by itself.

Dutchman, I almost wrote, that it looked like both Vicar Lane and the road in the photo were nudged westward. Vicar Lane looks like it acquired a dog leg too. I have no maps later than 1920, so I couldn't check. The Broadgate square always throws me because even before the precinct was built, it ate away at Smithford Street.

I just found the bigger version of the left side.

In this close-up of Smithford Street in 1950 you can see that part of Market Street has already been submerged under what wll later become the Upper Precinct:

Thanks Osmiroid - such a drastic change wasn't it

Yes! I think the biggest hate for me at the moment is all that bridge **** stuck onto the side of the bank building, and that the council actually think it's better there than not there. I think the bank building should be of national importance. (The old map I used was pre-bank though)

I don't think anyone knew about the bridge until it was there, it seemed to spring up over night, but in them days no one seemed to see plans or take so much interest, there was no where the information as you get today, in fact I can't remember seeing any building picture as to what was being built, it just seemed to have shot up, the whole area was one big building site, so from ground level you had little chance of discerning one project from another, people did not look at it quite so easy as you can today, that stupid clock I seem to recall took most people by surprise and had scores of ridicule in it's first few months but it stayed and the same for the whole bridge, no one wanted but as I have posted before, if you complained you were one voice, today and a million people hear you. Just my thoughts Kaga.

Here is an approx marking out of Smithford Street at the Broadgate end over a modern photo.

The original plan was for a 'triumphal arch' as seen on the left here but anti-war sentiment got in the way. Likewise the 'victory columns' marking the entry to the precinct.

What is the history of Ram Bridge? When, exactly where and how was it covered over. Does it still exist beneath the streets? Interesting name too!

It cuts across the Lower Precinct, just below Woolworths. It's thought to be named after Ram House or Inn which was in existence in 1574 and 1650. There is a picture of it being covered over in Post #9 of this thread: River Sherbourne

There is also a drawing of the bridge on post 45 of this topic.

Not quite Anne, post number 45 shows the bridge on West Orchard but it might be as seen from the Ram Bridge. Alternatively it may be the view from the bridge in between, that just had a building on it and no road. The next picture shows the view the other way from West Orchard and the one below it shows the view from the Ram Bridge. They both show the house on the bridge but from different sides.