Ancient Monuments

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Over Bridge

A Scheduled Monument in Highnam, Gloucestershire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.8745 / 51°52'28"N

Longitude: -2.2685 / 2°16'6"W

OS Eastings: 381608.416708

OS Northings: 219578.027437

OS Grid: SO816195

Mapcode National: GBR 0JM.H92

Mapcode Global: VH94B.M4KV

Entry Name: Over Bridge

Scheduled Date: 1 March 1968

Last Amended: 24 October 1997

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1015873

English Heritage Legacy ID: 28842

County: Gloucestershire

Civil Parish: Highnam

Traditional County: Gloucestershire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Gloucestershire

Church of England Parish: Highnam Holy Innocents

Church of England Diocese: Gloucester

Details

The monument includes a bridge spanning the canalised West Channel of the
River Severn on the western outskirts of Gloucester.
The bridge, of the single span arch type, is built of stone and is
approximately 100m long and 9m wide. The access to the bridge is under grass,
but that part of the bridge which spans the canal is tarmaced with a pavement
for pedestrian traffic on either side. The bridge, designed by Thomas Telford
in 1825, was opened in 1830 to carry the main road across the canal, and give
access to Gloucester from the west. Before the Severn Bridge was built at Aust
in the 1960s, this was the lowest point at which the Severn could be crossed
by bridge.
The bridge is in the care of the Secretary of State.
Wooden fence posts and telegraph poles are excluded from the scheduling,
although the ground beneath these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

No bridges are known in England prior to the Roman invasion, the earliest
being dated to between the late 1st century AD and AD250. Over the next 2000
years, many bridges have been constructed varying considerably in their scale,
the method of construction and their function. Many bridges remain in use and
have been strengthened to accommodate the demands of modern traffic, while
some have barely changed since their construction.
The 19th century brought new methods of bridge construction, including the use
of iron for spanning large distances. Thomas Telford was among the foremost
engineers of this period, and was responsible for the construction of a number
of bridges in the south west. He designed a single span arch bridge of cast
iron to span the Severn at Mythe, near Tewkesbury. The constrution of a
similar bridge at Over in stone represents a remarkable feat and is a fine
example of his work.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Record No 453, Gloucestershire C. C., Gloucestershire C. C. SMR,

Source: Historic England

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