Bristol Ferry Town Common in Fine Condition

The spring cleanup of Portsmouth’s Bristol Ferry Town Common took place last Saturday and the local resident volunteers dedicated to the preservation of this historic community property were pleasantly surprised to see that the long awaited re-tarring of the approach road which bisects the Common has recently been completed by Cardi Construction. The old road had been badly torn up over the years, and the potholes were a danger to pedestrians and cars alike. Cardi had agreed to repair the surface after their use of the road during last year’s work on the Mt. Hope Bridge.

The public is invited to come down to this scenic spot at the northern end of Bristol Ferry Road and enjoy the fine views of Mt. Hope Bay. The focal point of the Town Common were the old piers from which the Bristol Ferries used to transport Portsmouth farmers and their produce and livestock across the bay, starting in the 17th century. The Bristol Ferry Town Common was established in 1714 by a proclamation of the Portsmouth Town Committee, as a place where the public and Ferry users could keep their livestock while awaiting the Bristol Ferry. George Washington and Lafayette are said to have used the Bristol Ferry when touring Rhode Island after the revolutionary war. The Bristol Ferries went out of business in 1929, when the Mt. Hope Bridge was completed, and the local landscape gradually changed as houses and roads were built near the water. The newly asphalted roadway used to provide access to the Mt. Hope Marina Restaurant, which burned down (in suspicious circumstances) in 1985. Recently, this property has been used to store equipment and materials used in the repair of the Mt. Hope Bridge.

A few years ago, a group of local residents formed the Bristol Ferry Town Common Committee, dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of the Common. Aided by the Portsmouth Department of Public Works (DPW), the Committee has had granite makers installed to delineate the Common’s boundaries and installed an informational sign, which discusses the Town Common’s history. Each spring and fall, the Committee conducts a cleanup to remove downed brush and weed the several garden areas. DPW keeps the lawns of the Common mowed and picks up the collected debris.

While fairly small in area, the Common has access to the waters of Mt. Hope Bay and is a pleasant place to spend some time enjoying the view. Thanks to Cardi Construction and the Portsmouth DPW, this can now be done a lot more safely.