Kingston has a rich history - and our rewind series is the perfect way to explore it.

Today we are once again focusing on bridges but this time Kingston Bridge is not the one in question.

The bridge we are talking about today is a lot smaller but also a lot older.

Built in around 1175 this near 900 year old bridge is thought to be one of the oldest surviving in Britain today.

The bridge in question is the Clattern Bridge.

Built over the Hogsmill River nowadays the bridge finds itself between Wagamama's and Wildwood in Kingston Town Centre.

While standing since the 12th Century is very impressive the bridge has also been modified a few times having been widened in 1758 and again in 1862.

Shrove Tuesday Tradition

The bridge is also associated with a Shrove Tuesday Tradition.

A traditional game of football was held each year for centuries in Kingston.

Men of the town would meet at the Druid's Head Pub on Shrove Tuesday and then the two teams – from Townsend and Thames Street respectively– would compete to get the ball to one of the two goals.

One goal would be Clattern Bridge with the other being Kingston Bridge itself.

The game eventually moved to a local playing field in 1867 but not before dramatic events in 1798.

In this year the riot act literally had to be read and cavalry from Hampton Court Palace had to be called in due the brutal nature of the game.

As it happened the men at Hampton Court were also playing some traditional football so they never arrived!

It is safe to say that the Clattern Bridge has never been short of drama in its long history.