Reasons for Designation
Multi-span bridges are structures of two or more arches supported on
piers. They were constructed throughout the medieval period for the use
of pedestrians and packhorse or vehicular traffic, crossing rivers or
streams, often replacing or supplementing earlier fords. During the early
medieval period timber was used, but from the 12th century stone (and
later brick) bridges became more common, with the piers sometimes
supported by a timber raft. Most stone or brick bridges were constructed
with pointed arches, although semicircular and segmental examples are also
known. 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. The roadway was
often originally cobbled or gravelled. The building and maintenance of
bridges was frequently carried out by the church and by guilds, although
landowners were also required to maintain bridges. From the mid-13th
century the right to collect tolls, known as pontage, was granted to many
bridges, usually for repairs; for this purpose many urban bridges had
houses or chapels on them, and some were fortified with a defensive
gateway. Medieval multi-span bridges must have been numerous throughout
England, but most have been rebuilt or replaced and less than 200 examples
are now known to survive. As a rare monument type largely unaltered,
surviving examples and examples that retain significant medieval and post-
medieval fabric are considered to be of national importance.
Details
The monument includes the City Bridge at the junction of High Street and
Bridge Street in Winchester, a 19th century single arch stone bridge
spanning the River Itchen. It is also known as St Swithun or Soke Bridge
and is Listed Grade I. The City Bridge occupies a strategic position at
the city's ancient crossing place and eastern entrance, and replaces at
least one earlier structure. Remains of a medieval bridge, including
three arches, survive underneath the road surface immediately east of the
current bridge, while medieval masonry, probably associated with the
bridge, remains embedded along the river at number 23 Bridge Street.
The City Bridge was designed by George Forder and built in 1813. It is
made of limestone ashlar masonry and consists of a single arch with
alternate projecting voussoirs capped by a small moulded string course. The
balustraded parapet is slightly humped with piers at the terminals and at
mid-span on each side. Some of the decorative panels on the piers carry
inscriptions, such as `Arms on the East gate, Duke of Albemarle',
accompanied by a coat of arms (on the western terminal downstream side),
and `The first city bridge built by St Swithun 852-863. This bridge built
1813'(central pier upstream side).
The scheduling includes a 15m margin to the east to protect the three
medieval arches underneath Bridge Street and a 10m margin to the south to
preserve in situ medieval masonry along the river. To the north and west
the margin measures 5m to preserve the relationship with associated
deposits.
Excluded from the scheduling are fences, sign and lamp posts, the modern
tarmac surfacing of the carriageway across the bridge, the parapet above
the level of the road surface, as well as the adjacent buildings, although
the bridge fabric below them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33406
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
