Ash’s New Road Bridge Is Named – and November 23rd Is Opening Day

Published on: 22 Oct, 2024
Updated on: 22 Oct, 2024

Ash Road Bridge CGI

By David Reading

The new road bridge over the railway line at Ash is to be named Chester Bridge – suggested by the winners of a competition run by Guildford Borough Council.

The council asked local residents to come up with a name for the new bridge, taking into account the history of the area, the environment and the community when making their suggestions. The bridge is due to open on November 23.

More than 400 people submitted names, which were considered by a panel of local residents. The panel included historians, students from Ash Manor School, a former borough and parish councillor and a member of the local Scout group.

Back row, from left: Colin Bexley, VolkerFitzpatrick Project Manager; Jane Sheridan, SATRO Partnership and Volunteers Manager and Governor at Ash Manor School; Olivia, Head Girl, Ash Manor School; Xavier, Head Boy, Ash Manor School; Richard Tolley, local historian and Trustee of Ash Museum; Diyal Nonis, Operations Director, VolkerFitzpatrick
Seated, from left: Kate Bunting, Cub Scout Leader, 1st Ash Vale Scout Group; Pat Scott, former Parish and Borough Councillor and Chairman of Community Street Team; Sally Jenkinson, local historian and Curator of Ash Museum

Chester Bridge was suggested by both Andrew Reid and Beverley Jennings, with reference to the old Chester Arms pub. It was situated near the station and named after the Chester family, who lived nearby in Poyle Park.

The most well-known was Dr Henry Morris Chester, who was a major benefactor in the area in the 19th century and is said to have been an early advocate for a bridge over the railway line.

The council reports that that in 1895, Dr Chester wrote to the old Farnham Rural District Council stating that a bridge over the railway at Ash was a much-needed improvement, “instead of the present obstructive and dangerous level crossing”.

Dr Chester gifted the land for Ash Victoria Hall and then presented the clock and turret for the hall in memory of his mother. He left a legacy for the maintenance of the Victoria Hall clock, which became the Victoria Hall Clock Trust Fund.

Dr Chester also funded the wooden bell tower and its tubular bells at Tongham Church, the clock on the tower at St Peter’s Church and the organ and stained-glass windows in Cemetery Chapel.

Cllr Tom Hunt

GBC’s Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Cllr Tom Hunt, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who entered the competition to name the bridge. It’s great that we’ve had this opportunity to give our residents a voice.

“Dr Chester was certainly a generous benefactor and worthy of commemoration. It’s also fitting that he appears to have been one of the first advocates for a bridge over the railway at Ash. I’d also like to thank the judges for their time and invaluable local knowledge.”

The competition judges were:

Olivia, Head Girl at Ash Manor School
Xavier, Head Boy at Ash Manor School
Sally Jenkinson, local historian and Curator at Ash Museum
Pat Scott, former Ash Parish and Guildford Borough Councillor and Chairman of Community Street Team
Richard Tolley, local historian and Trustee of Ash Museum
Jane Sheridan, Partnerships and Volunteer Manager at SATRO and Governor at Ash Manor School
Kate Bunting, Cub Scout Leader, 1^st Ash Vale Scout Group

Colin Bexley, Project Manager for VolkerFitzpatrick, the contractors, said: “We had a really interesting morning at our site office discussing the names that were suggested. I was delighted to meet the panel of judges, who had a wealth of knowledge about Ash and its history.”