Baysdale Abbey Bridge, 460m east of Baysdale Farm

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.

Baysdale Abbey Bridge, 460m east of Baysdale Farm is a rare surviving medieval bridge. The later modifications add to its interest and its association with Baysdale Priory also adds to its significance.

Details

The monument includes a single arched bridge across Black Beck that was originally built to provide access to a Cistercian priory, the site of which is now occupied by a farm, Baysdale Abbey. The bridge is Listed Grade II*.

The Priory of St Mary was granted land in Baysdale by Guy de Bovincourt, and the community of nuns moved here in circa 1189 from Nunthorpe. Baysdale Abbey Bridge is believed to have been built in the following century to provide access to the priory from the north. After the priory was suppressed in 1539, the bridge continued in use for Baysdale Abbey, the farm that replaced the priory.

The single arch is two-centred, built in finely dressed ashlar and is supported by four ribs that spring from a roughly coursed plinth. The side walls are less finely dressed and may be a later cladding. The parapets, of herringbone tooled stone, are thought to be 17th or 18th century additions to the bridge. Marking the base of each parapet is a roll-moulded band. The deck of the bridge is tarmaced, with the parapets protected by modern kerbing.

A number of features are excluded from the scheduling: these are the telephone cables running along the outside faces of the bridge, the modern surfacing and kerbing, as well as the modern fences and gate that lie within the 2m margin around the structure of the bridge. The ground beneath all these features is, however, 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:

34723

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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