GRAND BRIDGE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1052917
Date first listed:: 27-Aug-1957
List Entry Name:: GRAND BRIDGE
Statutory Address:: GRAND BRIDGE

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Date:: 2002-06-01
Reference:: IOE01/06988/02
Rights:: © Mr Chris Tresise. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1052917
Date first listed:: 27-Aug-1957
List Entry Name:: GRAND BRIDGE
Statutory Address 1:: GRAND BRIDGE

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: GRAND BRIDGE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Oxfordshire
District:: West Oxfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Blenheim
National Grid Reference:: SP 43893 16414

Details

BLENHEIM SP41NW 2/14 Grand Bridge 27/08/57 GV I Bridge. c.1706-1712. By Sir John Vanburgh. Limestone ashlar. Semi-circular archway, with blocked voussoirs, flanked by 2-storey square projecting bays: each bay has segmental-arched opening with keystone linked to bracketed cornice and with bracketed sill, above niche. Outer bays have rusticated semi-circular arches and bands of frosted rustication beneath parapet. Canted abutments have rusticated quoin strips. The bridge was left unfinished when work on the palace stopped in 1712: Vanbrugh intended the central span to be surmounted by tall arcades within corner towers, thus making a version of Palladio's Rialto Bridge. The bridge, which spanned virtual marshland before Capability Brown made the lake, has over 30 rooms, some with chimneypieces and dish vaulting, and was first conceived as a habitable viaduct. The masons were Peisley and Townesend. (Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: p473; National Monuments Record; K. Downes, Hawkesmoor, 1959, p282; K. Downes, Vanbrugh, 1977, pp72-3; D. Green, Blenheim Palace, 1951, pp100-102, 117, 127;Blenheim Park is included in the HBMC Register of Parks and Gardens at Grade I)

Listing NGR: SP4389316414

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 252996
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Downes, K, Hawkesmoor, (1969), 282
Downes, K, Vanbrugh, (1977), 72-3
Green, D, Blenheim Palace, (1951), 100-102
Green, D, Blenheim Palace, (1951), 117, 127
Pevsner, N, Sherwood, J, The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, (1974), 473
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 34 Oxfordshire

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.