Footbridge over the River Divelish
Dark Lane, Fifehead Neville, Dorset
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1110485
- Date first listed:
- 04-Oct-1960
- List Entry Name:
- Footbridge over the River Divelish
- Statutory Address:
- Dark Lane, Fifehead Neville, Dorset
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2003-07-07
- Reference:
- IOE01/10750/05
- Rights:
- © Mrs Margaret U. Kingsland. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1110485
- Date first listed:
- 04-Oct-1960
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 03-Jul-2015
- List Entry Name:
- Footbridge over the River Divelish
- Statutory Address 1:
- Dark Lane, Fifehead Neville, Dorset
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Dark Lane, Fifehead Neville, Dorset
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Fifehead Neville
- National Grid Reference:
- ST7718911146
Summary
A packhorse bridge, probably medieval in date, with some later restoration.
Reasons for Designation
The medieval packhorse bridge at Fifehead Neville is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:
* Relative date: the bridge is a good survival of a medieval bridge, which, despite later repair, retains the majority of its early fabric;
* Architectural interest: it is a neatly-made structure with very well constructed, pointed arches to the spans;
* Historic interest: its form, without parapets, illustrates clearly how the bridge allowed laden pack animals to cross, before transport of goods by cart became the norm.
History
The footbridge bridge at Fifehead Neville probably dates from the medieval period. It was constructed as a packhorse bridge, without a parapet, to avoid animals’ side packs hitting as they crossed the bridge. Some restoration has taken place over its long life. A timber handrail was added in the C20.
Details
A packhorse bridge, probably medieval in date, with some later restoration.
MATERIALS
The bridge is constructed from coursed rubble stone, with timber railings.
DESCRIPTION
The bridge, which is six feet (circa 2m) wide and spans 34 feet (circa 10m), is of two spans. It has two pointed, almost straight-sided arches and a central pier, which has a full-height, pointed cutwater on the upstream side; there is no cutwater on the downstream side. It has a kerb of rubble stones set on edge. The C20 timber railings have a single top-rail set diamond-wise, and cantilevered out from the structure of the bridge.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 102502
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Wallis, A J, Dorset Bridges A History and Guide, (1974), 77-8 & illus.
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume III, (1970), 93
McFetrich, D, Parsons, J, Discover Dorset Bridges, (1998), 36
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jun-2026 at 04:22:43.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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