Monk's Bridge 320m south east of Farthwaite

Reasons for Designation

Medieval and early post-medieval single span bridges are structures designed to carry a road or track over a river by means of a single arch, typically 3m- 6m in span. They were constructed throughout the medieval period, most commonly using timber. Stone began to be used instead of timber in the 12th century and became increasingly common in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many medieval bridges were repaired, modified or extensively rebuilt in the post- medieval period. During the medieval period the construction and maintenance of bridges was frequently carried out by large estates and the Church, especially monastic institutions which developed long distance packhorse routes between their landholdings. Some stone built medieval bridges still survive. These can be classified into three main types based on the profile of the arch which is typically pointed, semi-circular or flattened. 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. Bridges were common and important features of medieval towns and the countryside and allowed easy access along a well developed road and trackway system. However, only around 16 largely unaltered medieval single span bridges have so far been recognised to survive in England. All these are considered to be of national importance. A larger number retain significant medieval or post-medieval remains, allowing the original form of the bridge to be determined. These examples are also nationally important.

Despite being traditionally associated with nearby medieval Calder Abbey, Monk's Bridge is thought to have been either constructed or rebuilt in the 17th or 18th centuries. It is, however, a good and relatively rare surviving example of a simple single span packhorse bridge, a type common in the region during the medieval and early post-medieval periods, with the arch high enough above the water level to protect the bridge from rapidly rising flood waters which are a characteristic of rivers draining the Lakeland fells.

Details

The monument includes a post-medieval single span packhorse bridge over the River Calder situated above a rocky gorge 120m north of High Wath Ford. Although traditionally said to be a medieval structure associated with Calder Abbey some 4km downstream, Monk's Bridge is thought to be have been either constructed or rebuilt in the 17th or 18th centuries. It is built of roughly dressed red sandstone blocks rising to a single slightly pointed arch spanning approximately 5.5m. The pathway measures about 0.9m wide with alternate rows of stone slabs projecting outwards. Monk's Bridge is a Grade II Listed Building. All stiles and fence posts 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. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

27850

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
DOE, List of Buildings of Historic & Architectural Interest,
AM7, Monks Bridge,

End of official list entry

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