Rowsley Bridge

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Overview

Rowsley Bridge, originating in the C15, widened in the 1920s. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1263843
Date first listed:: 22-Jun-1950
List Entry Name:: Rowsley Bridge

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Date:: 2004-03-29
Reference:: IOE01/11179/17
Rights:: © Mr David Morten. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1263843
Date first listed:: 22-Jun-1950
Date of most recent amendment:: 03-Feb-2020
List Entry Name:: Rowsley Bridge
Location Description:: Rowsley Bridge (spanning the Derwent), Bakewell Road, Rowsley, Derbyshire

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.

County:: Derbyshire
District:: Derbyshire Dales (District Authority)
Parish:: Rowsley
National Park:: PEAK DISTRICT
National Grid Reference:: SK2567165893

Summary

Rowsley Bridge, originating in the C15, widened in the 1920s.

Reasons for Designation

Rowsley Bridge is listed at Grade II*, for the following principal reasons: Architectural interest:

* although the bridge was widened in the early C20, it continues to illustrate its medieval form, with well-constructed pointed arches and cutwaters on the east; * the bridge retains a substantial proportion of its early fabric; * it is a well-executed structure which illustrates medieval bridge-building techniques, and its continued use and adaptation is an on-going testament to medieval road building in England.

Historic interest:

* it is a significant example of a medieval bridge which has the potential to provide evidence of engineering techniques of the period.

Group value:

* forming a picturesque ensemble with several listed buildings to the west.

History

Rowsley Bridge is purported to be C15 in origin. It crosses the Derwent at the confluence with the Wye, on a major route, now the A6.

The bridge, which was initially much narrower, became incapable of coping with the increased size and amount of traffic in the early C20. In the early 1920s a solution was sought and various options considered. Newspaper accounts of the period prove the high public regard of the ancient structure, and the opposition to its demolition and replacement. The local council finally resolved to widen the bridge, extending it on one side and replicating its approximate form.

Details

Rowsley Bridge, originating in the C15, widened in the 1920s.

MATERIALS: constructed from sandstone ashlar with a modern road surface laid on granite setts.

PLAN: the bridge spans the river Derwent, and is orientated roughly north to south. DESCRIPTION: a multi-span bridge of five arches. The east side is essentially unaltered; the wide, stepped pointed arches are separated by triangular cutwaters with stepped sloping tops. The straight parapet has triangular coping stones. The west side of the bridge replicates the general form, though has segmental arches and the parapet has flat coping stones. The parapet wall has a stone inscribed ‘ROWSLEY BRIDGE / WIDENED 1925-6 / J W HORTON, M INST CE / COUNTY SURVEYOR / C F TOMLINSON / CONTRACTOR’.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 429494
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Williamson, E, The Buildings of England: Derbyshire, (1978), 312
Websites
‘The End of a Long and Winding Road’ in Reflections, January 2005, Vol 14 Issue 156, pp37-39, accessed 28/06/2019 from https://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/mag/reflections/longwindingroad.htm
Rowsley Bridge, Rowsley, ref 12224, Derbyshire Historic Environment Record, accessed 28/06/2019 from https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MDR3652&resourceID=1023
Rowsley Bridge, The Andrews Pages Picture Gallery: Derbyshire, accessed 28/06/2019 from https://www.andrewsgen.com/photo/derbyshire/rowsley_bridge.htm
Other
‘Rowsley Bridge, Darley Council in Favour of Widening’, Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald - 01 March 1924, p8
Letter to the editor from Canon Prior, vicar of Rowsley, on Rowsley Bridge, Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald - 16 February 1924, p14

Legal

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