William Risbridger
William was born on 7/7/1822, in Betchworth.
In the census of 1841 he is shown as 15 years of age living at Gadbrook Farm, Betchworth. In the census of 1890 he...
The Ris Bridger
There are several place-names in England, including Risebridge in Durham, Essex and Rising Bridge in Nottinghamshire.
In Norway (where a birch stick is still referred to as a bjorke ris) there is Risbruhaugen and in Sweden examples include Risbro in Västmanland or the village of Resebro in Östergötland. Here, a risbro ‘brushwood causeway’ was constructed by laying down a bed of brushwood and covering it with stones and gravel.
The Rysbrug
Henry Risbridger and Cyril Risbridger, who both researched the Risbridgers in the 1980's, believed that their ancestors came from the area around the Rysbrug, now known as Run Common Road in the parish of Cranleigh to the south of Guildford. To the east of the bridge (photographed around 1990 by Cyril) is the neighbourhood of Ridgebridge Hill.
The Ris Bridger
Usage of the word ris to mean a stick was still common in England and Scotland less than a century ago, and in Norway it still means a birch stick.. The technique of using brushwood causeways or ris-bridges to cross waterlogged ground was known throughout Northern Europe. There are several place-names in England, including Risebridge in Durham, Essex and Rising Bridge in Nottinghamshire.
In Norway there is Risbruhaugen and in Sweden examples include Risbro in Västmanland or the village of Resebro in Östergötland. Here, a risbro ‘brushwood causeway’ was constructed by laying down a bed of brushwood and covering it with stones and gravel.