Town Bridge

Town Bridge, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, Dorset

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Overview

A multi-span bridge, dating from the late C15 or early C16; widened in the C17. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1110531
Date first listed:: 04-Oct-1960
List Entry Name:: Town Bridge
Statutory Address:: Town Bridge, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, Dorset

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Date:: 2003-04-08
Reference:: IOE01/06967/21
Rights:: © Dr Barry Senior. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1110531
Date first listed:: 04-Oct-1960
Date of most recent amendment:: 03-Jul-2015
List Entry Name:: Town Bridge
Statutory Address 1:: Town Bridge, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, 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:: Town Bridge, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, Dorset

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

District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Sturminster Newton
National Grid Reference:: ST7845213575

Summary

A multi-span bridge, dating from the late C15 or early C16; widened in the C17.

Reasons for Designation

The C15/C16 and C17 Town Bridge in Sturminster Newton is listed at Grade I, for the following principal reasons: * Relative date: the bridge retains its C15 or C16 structure, together with good quality work to widen it, dating from the C17; * Architectural interest: it is a neatly-made structure with very well constructed arches to the spans, and deep, pointed cutwaters with contemporary refuges.

History

The bridge over the River Stour was constructed in the late C15 or early C16; it was described by John Leland in his ‘Itineraries’ in the C16 as ‘a very fair bridge of six arches’. It was widened from 12ft to 18ft in the C17, though the original arches remain visible from both sides; and the entrances to the bridge were altered by the creation of curved parapet walls to create a splay, probably in the C18. At least one of the larger, central cutwaters, with their pedestrian refuges, was repaired in the early C19: it carries a datestone for 1820. The bridge underwent conservative repairs in the early 1990s. The bridge was constructed on timber piles, with a timber apron below the waterline; this was removed during repairs in 2011.

Details

A multi-span bridge, dating from the late C15 or early C16; widened in the C17.

MATERIALS The bridge is constructed of ashlar and squared rubble stone.

DESCRIPTION The bridge, which has six two-centred arches, carries a road 18ft (approx. 4m) wide across the River Stour. The arches to the earlier, 12ft-wide bridge, which are visible to both sides, are slightly gradated, have chamfered ashlar archivolts ending in run-out stops at springing level. The C17 aches are segmental-pointed and spring from corbelled string courses inserted above the cutwaters of the original piers. Between each pair of arches the points of the cutwaters extend upwards to road level. The larger, central cutwaters are corbelled out at the top to form pedestrian refuges to either side of the road. The level of the roadway is marked to both sides by hollow-chamfered string courses, much weathered, above which are squared parapets with coping, a single row to the road side, and in two stages to the river side. The central upstream cutwater has a datestone for 1820, which is upside down when viewed from alongside the bridge, but appears correctly when viewed from the roadway on the bridge. The most northerly cutwater on the same side carries a datestone for 1827. The entrances to the bridge have splayed parapets. Town Bridge is one of a number of bridges in the county to have an iron plaque affixed, in this case within the downstream refuge, which carries the text ‘ANY PERSON WILFULLY INJURING ANY PART OF THIS COUNTY BRIDGE WILL BE GUILTY OF FELONY AND UPON CONVICTION LIABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED FOR LIFE’.

The bridge is known as Town Bridge or Sturminster Newton Bridge.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 102404
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume III, (1970), 271
McFetrich, D, Parsons, J, Discover Dorset Bridges, (1998), 23-4 & illus.
Wallis, A J , Dorset Bridges A History and Guide, (1974), 78-9 & 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.