There has been a bridge over the River Witham in this area since at
least 1220, and possibly even 1142. Up until the first iron bridge
was erected in 1807, each crossing was either made of wood or
stone or a combination of the two. Each bridge was repaired
until it no longer made financial sense to do so, and then a
replacement was built. Many of the early bridges were paid for
from tolls levied on the goods that people took over the
crossings. The current bridge was designed by John J. Webster
and erected in 1913.
The fountain at the end of the bridge facing the HSBC building
was paid for and presented to the town by Thomas Garfit in
1860. He was the son of William Garfit who launched Boston’s
first bank in 1754. It is made from white Mansfield Stone and has
a basin of red Aberdeen granite. It was originally provided with
two brass drinking ladles; you can still see where these were
attached to the fountain.
(From - microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/upload/public/.../BostonLongPastPart2)