Water Orton Bridge

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Overview

Road bridge, built in around 1520 on the site of an earlier bridge, commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter, with later repairs. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1075812
Date first listed:: 18-Oct-1949
List Entry Name:: Water Orton Bridge

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Date:: 1999-10-10
Reference:: IOE01/01314/04
Rights:: © Mr J Martin. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1075812
Date first listed:: 18-Oct-1949
Date of most recent amendment:: 12-Mar-2019
List Entry Name:: Water Orton Bridge
Location Description:: Water Orton Lane and Minworth Road

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

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

District:: Birmingham (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Sutton Coldfield
County:: Warwickshire
District:: North Warwickshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Water Orton
National Grid Reference:: SP1740791422

Summary

Road bridge, built in around 1520 on the site of an earlier bridge, commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter, with later repairs.

Reasons for Designation

Water Orton Bridge, built in 1520, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as an early-C16 bridge which, despite later modifications, retains a significant proportion of early fabric;

* as a well-constructed multi-arch bridge which displays a good use of ashlar sandstone.

Historic interest:

* for its association with John Vesey, Bishop of Exeter who commissioned the bridge and whose involvement in its construction is commemorated on his tomb in the nearby Church of Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield (Grade I).

History

An earlier bridge is documented in this location from at least 1459 when Bishop Reynold Bowlers issued an indulgence to those who would contribute to its repair. This structure was replaced by the existing bridge in around 1520. It was commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter (1452-1555) and it is mentioned on his tomb in Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield (Grade I). It has been suggested that some bridge masonry was reused from a large demolished house in Sutton Coldfield. The bridge’s parapets were largely rebuilt in the C19, and have been subject to further repairs in the C20 and C21. Other repairs and consolidation have been made to the bridge at various times, including to the points of the cutwaters. At an unknown date, two carved stones, one of which was a corbel supported by an angel, were removed from the bridge and understood to be placed in the Church of St Nicholas and St Peter ad Vincula, Curdworth, North Warwickshire.

Details

Road bridge, built in around 1520 on the site of an earlier bridge, commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter, with later repairs.

MATERIAL: constructed of ashlar sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: the bridge spans the River Tame and consists of six semi-circular arches, each 5m wide and finished with stone voussoirs. Between the arches are 2m-wide piers with V-shaped cutwaters on either side which span the full height of the bridge, up to parapet level. The coped parapets are plain. There are stone drainage spouts above the two central arches.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 216631
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Pickford, C, The Buildings of England: Warwickshire , (2016), 466
Salzman, LF (ed), The Victoria History of the County of Warwickshire: Volume IV, (1947), 262
Websites
Our Warwickshire: Water Orton Bridge, accessed 17 January 2019 from https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/water-orton-bridge
Water Orton Birdge Pastscape entry, accessed 17 January 2019 from https://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=332032

Legal

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