Summary

Multi span bridge called Stokeford Bridge

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 9 July 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records. As such they do not yet have the full descriptions of their modernised counterparts available. Please contact us if you would like further information.

This monument includes a multi span bridge situated in the Avon valley across the river midway between its confluences with the River Frome and the How Brook. The bridge has medieval origins and replaced an earlier medieval ford and survives as a fully standing Bath stone built structure with four segmental arches with keystones and prominent early piers and cutwaters. The bridge was subject to modernisation, repair and widening in 1930 and 1964 and is still is use as a busy road bridge.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Multi-span bridges are structures of two or more arches supported on piers. They were constructed throughout the medieval period for the use of pedestrians and packhorse or vehicular traffic, crossing rivers or streams, often replacing or supplementing earlier fords. During the early medieval period timber was used, but from the 12th century stone (and later brick) bridges became more common, with the piers sometimes supported by a timber raft. Most stone or brick bridges were constructed with pointed arches, although semicircular and segmental examples are also known. A common medieval feature is the presence of stone ashlar ribs underneath the arch. The bridge abutments and revetting of the river banks also form part of the bridge. Where medieval bridges have been altered in later centuries, original features are sometimes concealed behind later stonework, including remains of earlier timber bridges. The roadway was often originally cobbled or gravelled. The building and maintenance of bridges was frequently carried out by the church and by guilds, although landowners were also required to maintain bridges. From the mid-13th century the right to collect tolls, known as pontage, was granted to many bridges, usually for repairs; for this purpose many urban bridges had houses or chapels on them, and some were fortified with a defensive gateway. Despite some modernisation the multi span bridge called Stokeford Bridge survives well and retains many of its original features indication how it was constructed and how it has developed.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape 863878

Source: Historic England