Selby, The Old Toll Bridge c.1955

Photo ref: S90034

During WW2 my uncle Bob was billited in the area, and my mother took me up to visit him. I was only a child, but I have a memory of being allowed to stand on this bridge while it was being turned. Was this possible? I also have a memory of being near the river and seeing some sort of factory transport system which ran on overhead rail, and a lad on a rowing boat with one oar at the back sculling downstream at a fair old pace.

Living on the Barlby side of "the bridge" it seemed to dominate your life. If you had to catch a train, you set off a good deal earlier than normal in case you were "Bridged" ie in case it had to open for river traffic. I was born the year this photo was taken and my grandmother had a pram built for me at Silver Cross in Bradford, which was shipped to Selby by rail, and it is said it was so big they had to widen the ...see more