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Grade II* listed bridge over the Kennet, built 1769-72 by James Clarke, also known as Town or Water Bridge
The brick and stone bridge over the River Kennet in central Newbury is listed at Grade II*. It was built in 1769-72 by James Clarke replacing an earlier wooden bridge of 1726. Four arches or towers flank the bridge. It is a three span structure of which the two outer spans are concealed. Three of the arches have been incorporated in the adjoining shops while the plinth forms a doorway to No 1 Bridge Street <1>.
The two arches on the west side have additions to the top: SW corner- "Bishopsgate" London. This was added c100years ago as the building society who owned the building at that time had their headquarters in Bishopsgate London. NW corner- "Donnington Castle". This was added by the Newbury Building Society c1997. It is likely that the buildings on all four corners of the bridge were built after the bridge as three of the arches/towers are incorporated into the flanking buildings <8>.
The Bishopsgate tower (SW corner) is the only one to survive as a free-standing structure. All three corner buildings are thought to have the same vaulted cellars which form part of the outer spans <8>.
BRIDGE ARCHES BENEATH 1, 2 AND 4 BRIDGE STREET, SKETCHED BY S LOBB <12>.
West Berkshire Museum has a photograph showing an aquatint made in 1792 of the bridge; and a number of photographs showing the bridge at various dates of the 20th century <15>.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings had a campaign which included surveying and photographing ancient bridges in Berkshire: the file dating to 1926-28 included Newbury Bridge <17>.
| <01> | Department of the Environment. 1974-2000?. DOE List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Unpublished document / SWB10006] |
| <02> | Money, W. 1905 & 1972. A Popular History of Newbury (also Walter Money's History of Newbury). p82. [Monograph / SWB11278] |
| <03> | 1928-9. The Parthenon, Vol IV No.6. pp186-188 Article by Bowes, N.S. [Article in serial / SWB13516] |
| <04> | The Newbury Advertiser. 1985. Kennet bridge has had its troubles. [Article in serial / SWB13517] |
| <05> | The Borough Museum, Newbury. 1973. Newbury Buildings Past and Present. p16-7, Illust p36. [Monograph / SWB12937] |
| <06> | Willis, John. 1768. Willis' Map of the Country ten miles round Newbury, with a plan of the Town of Newbury and of Speenhamland, 1768. 2 inch to mile?. Town Map No 21. [Map / SWB8040]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/50263734041 (Accessed 16/09/2021) |
| <07> | Russell, J. 1997. The Kennet & Avon Canal - A journey from Newbury to Bath in 1964. [Monograph / SWB14609] |
| <08> | Fiorato, V. 2002. Newbury Bridge. [Unpublished document / SWB13518] |
| <09> | Pevsner, N. 1966. The Buildings of England (Berkshire). p184. [Monograph / SWB10024] |
| <10> | Tyack, G, Bradley, S and Pevsner, N. 2010. The Buildings of England (Berkshire). p402. [Monograph / SWB147855] |
| <11> | Robertson, A S. 1792. Topographical Survey of the Great West Road from London to Bath Vol I. Illust opp I p139. [Unpublished document / SWB13306]
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UwkQAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0 (Accessed 25/09/2015) |
| <12> | S Lobb. Sketch of Bridge Arches Beneath 2, Bridge Street. PRN 2805. [Graphic material / SWB148647] |
| <13> | Various. 1980-1999?. Listed Building Photos taken by Newbury District Conservation Officers. Not aerial photo. [Photograph / SWB148754] |
| <14> | Vincent, J E. 1906. Highways and Byways in Berkshire. p426, Illust. [Monograph / SWB146918]
https://archive.org/details/highwaysbywaysin00vinciala (Accessed 07/06/2016 [1919 edition]) |
| <15> | Museum Curator. Newbury Museum Accession Records (West Berkshire Museum since 1998). 2022 WBC Network. NEBYM:1986.50; 2000.20.159-170; Frith.NBRY.18. [Unpublished document / SWB14452] |
| <16> | 1950-83. Buildings included in the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, pre Review. WBC Network. ø 1/198. [Unpublished document / SWB10875] |
| <17> | Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). 2021. Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings archive catalogue. SPAB-PWP-2-2. [Website / SWB150439]
https://catalogue.spab.org.uk/ (Accessed 20/02/2023) |
| MWB15969 | 1 Bridge Street (West Side), Newbury (Building) |
| MWB15970 | 2 Bridge Street (East side), Newbury (Building) |
| MWB15971 | 4 Bridge Street (East side), Newbury (Building) |
| MWB3466 | NEWBURY - Post medieval town (Monument) |
| MWB18297 | 1 Northbrook Street, Newbury (Building) |
| MWB19910 | 105b Northbrook Street, Newbury (Building) |
| MWB3445 | Site of medieval Newbury Bridge (Monument) |
| MWB9926 | Under Newbury Bridge (Find Spot) |