Monument Type(s):

• BRIDGE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

A bridge of Medieval origin, which was largely rebuilt in 1795 and then 1823 It is protected by Grade II Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA6570 - Pre 1989 Survey of Bridgnorth historic town development by T R Slater

Description

Of medieval origin but largely rebuilt 1795 with further reconstruction by Telford 1823. <1>

The first certain mention of the bridge across the Severn at Bridgnorth is in the C13, but the Aethleflaedan burh of 912 was said to have been founded at BRUGE, either at Bridgnorth or Quatford, but as there are clear indications of a Bridge of the late C11 at Quatford (SA 406 and SA 408), it seems probable that any earlier bridge at Bridgnorth had fallen into disrepair by that time. The establishment of the borough at Bridgnorth in 1101-2 was presumably followed by the construction of the bridge <2>

By the C15 this had a gateway and chapel (SA 382) on it. The present bridge dates from 1832 <3>

A bridge must have existed by the early 11th century if not before. The bridge may have been rebuilt or substantially repaired at the beginning of the 12th century since this seems the most likely period of origin for the Chapel of St Sythe (St Osyth <4>

The earliest bridge may have been at Quatford. Until the building of Bewdley Bridge c1447 the Bridgnorth bridge was the main crossing point of the Severn in this area. The Chapel [SA 00382] was known variously as 'The Holy Trinity and St Sythe', 'St Clement and St Syth' or 'St Sythe'. St Sythe was a Saxon Saint who narrowly escaped drowning crossing a footbridge and was a favoured saint of Richard de Belleme. Buildings on the bridge stood more or less intact at the end of the 18th century but were gradually removed to aid traffic flow. By 1924, no buildings survived. A gatehouse stood on the bridge [SA 05607]. This may be the roundheaded archway with rooms above shown in 18th century illustrations. It was removed by 1824, for in 1823-24 the bridge was widened throughout and both ends rebuilt <5>

Tenements on the bridge are discussed in deeds. Source outlines Post Medieval history of the bridge <6>

In the mid 16th century Leland noted, "There be in the Bridge of Bridgenorth standing East in respect of the Towne 8 great Arches and a Chappell of St Sythe upon it <7>

CMHTS Comment: The present bridge is of Medieval origin, but was largely rebuilt in 1795 and then 1823. <8>

CMHTS Report <9>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2008. <11>

Included in an atlas of building stone in the county. Bridgnorth Bridge, rebuilt by Thomas Telford in 1796, is constructed of the green or slightly purple-tinged Highley Sandstone. <12>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 00423 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1974-Feb-01, 4th List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p30 (List of Buildings). SSA599.

<02> Anon, 1961/ 1964, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological Society, p37-44 (Volume). SSA1022.

<03> Rowley R T, 1972, The Shropshire Landscape, p187 (Monograph). SSA928.

<04> Slater T R, 1988, Medieval Composite Towns in England: the Evidence from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, p10 (Monograph). SSA12043.

<05> Clark-Maxwell W G, 1923/ 1924, Bridgnorth: the Bridge and its Chapel (Article in serial). SSA1740.

<06> Watkins-Pitchford D W, 1937/ 1938, Collections for a History of Bridgnorth, Salop: a MS by William Hardwicke, p204-212 (Article in serial). SSA1718.

<07> Adnitt H W (ed), 1881, The "Itinerary'' of John Leland, p137 (Article in serial). SSA10743.

<08> Buteux Victoria, 1993/ 1996, CMHTS SMR Records Shropshire: Bridgnorth, Bridgnorth 423 (Record form). SSA19965.

<09> Buteux Victoria et al, 1996, Archaeological Assessment of Bridgnorth, Shropshire (CMHTS) (Historic landscape survey report). SSA12066.

<10> Blackwall A, 1985, Historic Bridges of Shropshire, p7-9 (Monograph). SSA5174.

<11> Shropshire Council, 2008-Jun-8, SA0804_161 (1 photo) Flight: 08_SA_04 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA25628.

<12> English Heritage/BGS, 2012, Strategic Stone Study: a building stone atlas of Shropshire, p.19 (Field survey report). SSA28555.

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.