Holme Bridge
Holme Bridge Road, East Stoke, Purbeck, 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:
- 1120572
- Date first listed:
- 20-Nov-1959
- List Entry Name:
- Holme Bridge
- Statutory Address:
- Holme Bridge Road, East Stoke, Purbeck, Dorset
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-05-25
- Reference:
- IOE01/07190/06
- Rights:
- © Mrs Vanessa Clark. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1120572
- Date first listed:
- 20-Nov-1959
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 30-Jun-2015
- List Entry Name:
- Holme Bridge
- Statutory Address 1:
- Holme Bridge Road, East Stoke, Purbeck, 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:
- Holme Bridge Road, East Stoke, Purbeck, Dorset
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- East Stoke
- National Grid Reference:
- SY8904986642
Summary
Bridge over River Frome. Early C17 origin, lengthened in late C17, C18 and C19. Repaired 1956.
Reasons for Designation
Holme Bridge, of early C17 origin, lengthened in late C17, C18 and C19, and repaired in 1956, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest and date: it is a particularly interesting and relatively rare survival of a bridge originating from the early C17 that displays particularly high quality architectural detailing and use of different materials;
* Historic Interest: its historic phasing as expressed in its repairs, extensions and modifications over successive centuries, and arguably the C20 too, reflect the particularly high level significance, evolution and development of this important route;
* Intactness: the bridge, despite having had some parts of its parapet rebuilt, has survived remarkably intact.
History
Earlier bridges, dating from the 13th and 15th centuries, are believed to have occupied this site, though no fabric appears to have survived above ground or within the current bridge. The oldest part of the bridge probably dates from the early C17. In July 1674 at the Quarter Sessions the bridge was presented as being in great decay, and it was probably soon afterwards that a fourth segmental stone arch was built to the north. In the C18 an arch was added at the north end, and in the C19 a further one at the south end.
In 1945 Holme Bridge was damaged by military transport and in 1951 a Bailey Bridge was built immediately to its east. In 1956, Holme Bridge was restored by Dorset County Council and the Ministry of Works. In 1963 the Bailey Bridge was replaced with the current bridge, superseding the original Holme Bridge.
Details
Six-span bridge over the River Frome. Early C17 origin, lengthened in late C17, C18 and C19 and repaired in 1956.
MATERIALS: the earlier part of the structure is built of limestone and car-stone, lengthened with parapets rebuilt (1956) in brick with stone copings.
The oldest section has 3 stone arches of 2 orders - the central one higher - and springs from plain piers. The arch to the north, added in the late C17, is plain and built in stone, and that added in the C18 is built in brick. The C19 arch to the south is built in stone with brick spandrels. The west parapet has five cut-waters - also forming refuges - whilst the east has only two cut-waters.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 108346
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
McFetrich, D, Parsons, J, Discover Dorset Bridges, (1998), 7, 18
An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset. Vol. 3, (1970), Vol. 2, part 2, p275
Other
Information and documents of the Ministry of Works, relating to the scheduling of Holme Bridge, File ref. AA 60624/2 Now held by the National Archive
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 12-Jun-2026 at 18:01:00.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.