There are many topics of conversation surrounding Salisbury happening at present. In particular, the ongoing work involving Fisherton Street, the City Hall/Library debate, and the Riverside Park project to name but a few.

It is interesting, therefore, to return to the Salisbury of the 1940s. In the wake of World War II, Salisbury was looking to the future and in 1949, the then Salisbury City Council published its proposals to redevelop parts of the medieval city.

Among the features put forward were central and external bypasses, new access roads in the city centre, multi-story car parks, a new public library and museum, integrated railway and bus terminal, a riverside park, and improved residential and industrial areas.

Some of the ideas came to fruition, although not as originally envisaged.

An inner ring road (Churchill Way) was constructed, for example, but thankfully not along the proposed route which would have included roundabouts at the junctions of Fisherton Street with North Street, Castle Street and Scots Lane, St Edmunds Church Street and Salt Lane, Milford Street and Gigant Street, and Trinity Street with Love Lane.

A multi-story car park was another feature that did materialise, although not in the predicted location presently occupied by The Old George Mall shopping precinct but in New Street.

Our picture is taken from an artistic perspective drawn by AC Webb, which shows the proposed two-way road which would have linked Bridge Street with the Cheesemarket (top right) and a new assembly hall (top) that was to be known as the Victory Hall.

In the centre of the picture we can see the Old Mill (then an electricity generating station) which did not become the City Museum, as planned, but the Bishop’s Mill pub instead.

The building in the right foreground was to be the city library.