Grey's Bridge

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Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1119862
Date first listed:: 10-Mar-1987
List Entry Name:: Grey's Bridge

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.

Date:: 2007-09-13
Reference:: IOE01/16728/26
Rights:: © Mr Derek Beauchamp. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1119862
Date first listed:: 10-Mar-1987
Date of most recent amendment:: 30-Jun-2015
List Entry Name:: Grey's Bridge
Location Description:: London Road, Dorchester, Dorset. Located at NGR SY70026 90835.

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:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Dorchester
District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Stinsford
National Grid Reference:: SY7001690832

Summary

A mid-C18 bridge spanning the River Frome between the civil parish boundaries of Dorchester and Stinsford.

Reasons for Designation

Grey’s Bridge, Dorset, of mid-C18 date, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: it is a neatly-made structure with well-constructed arches to the spans, and deep, pointed cutwaters with contemporary refuges; * Cultural: as the location of key events in both Far From the Madding Crowd (1874) and The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) by Thomas Hardy.

History

Constructed in 1748, the bridge carries London Road over the River Frome to replace Stockham or Stocking Bridge, which stood a few hundred feet to the north. It was built with an endowment from Mrs Lora Pitt (nee Grey) of Kingston Maurward (qv). Two metal plaques were recorded as fixed to the parapets in 1987. One was an example of a ‘Transportation’ plate commonly fixed to bridges in Dorset during the reign of George IV, which threatened transportation for life for anyone found guilty of wilfully damaging the bridge. The other indicated that the bridge was probably repaired in 1835. The bridge was widened on the downstream side by 6ft in 1927. It is named and featured in Far From the Madding Crowd (1874) and The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) by Thomas Hardy.

Details

A road bridge of 1748 date, widened in 1927.

MATERIALS: ashlar stone and reinforced concrete.

DESCRIPTION: the bridge is of three unequal spans, each with a round arch with moulded archivolts. They spring from restored, pointed cutwaters. The central arch is widest (c.12ft). There is a double plat-band above the arches, at road level. The name and date are incised in contemporary lettering in an original tablet set in the parapet wall: GREYS BRIDGE 1748. The plain parapet wall has weathered coping and square returned wing walls over the abutments. The parapets are stepped out each end to form pedestrian refuges. The widened section is built of reinforced concrete and re-faced in the original stonework.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 106333
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
McFetrich, D, Parsons, J, Discover Dorset Bridges, (1998), 45
Wallis, A J , Dorset Bridges A History and Guide, (1974), 64
Websites
Pastscape - Monument No. 455045: Greys bridge, accessed 13/2/2015 from http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=455045

Legal

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