Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (29)Redbridge
Vadum Arundinis
Redbridge Abbey
Cymberth
Ad Lapidem
Stoneham
Alre, River
Itchen, River
Chilton Candovers
Redbridge, called anciently Vadum Arundinis by Beda, which he interprets Reed ford, and in short Redford. It changed its Name when the Bridge was set up.
In the Infancy of the Saxon Church here stood a Monastery, whereof one Cymberth was Abbot, and baptized as Bede tells us, two Brothers of Arvandus, petty King of the Isle of Wight, just before they were murdered; for Cedwalla the Saxon invaded that Island, and these two Boys made their Escape and hid themselves at a little Town called Ad Lapidem, but being betrayed to Cedwalla, they were killed at his Command. Mr. Camden seems rightly to conjecture, that Stoneham, a little Town, not far from Redbridge, was the Place where these young Princes lay hid.
Redbridge is no Market Town, but is of more Note than many in this County that are; for by having Ships built here for his Majesty and Merchants, this Place hath lately arrived at a prosperous Condition. East of this Town there is another River that empties it self into the Southampton Bay, which Mr. Camden will have called the Alre, for this region chiefly, because a pretty big Town, called Alresford, stands upon it; for he says it implies the Ford of Alre, but all our Maps and common Report call it Itching; and if one Town may give ground to call it Alre, how much more several Itching? For we find upon the Banks of it Itching Stake, Ab Itching, Itching; and if the Syllable Ford deems material, we may as well say, the Name is Twy, because there is a Town called Twyford standing upon it. This River rises at Chilton Candover, and a little Way down the Stream we meet with
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