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

A packhorse bridge, probably medieval in date, with some later restoration. Read the official list entry to find out more.

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

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Date:: 2003-07-07
Reference:: IOE01/10750/05
Rights:: © Mrs Margaret U. Kingsland. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official 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

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:: 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
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume III, (1970), 93
McFetrich, D, Parsons, J, Discover Dorset Bridges, (1998), 36
Wallis, A J , Dorset Bridges A History and Guide, (1974), 77-8 & illus.

Legal

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