Cornford Bridge

Caundle Brook, Cornford Hill, Bishop's Caundle, 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:: 1324112
Date first listed:: 11-Jul-1951
List Entry Name:: Cornford Bridge
Statutory Address:: Caundle Brook, Cornford Hill, Bishop's Caundle, Dorset

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Date:: 2007-07-19
Reference:: IOE01/16795/13
Rights:: © Mr Anthony Gibson. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1324112
Date first listed:: 11-Jul-1951
Date of most recent amendment:: 30-Jun-2015
List Entry Name:: Cornford Bridge
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: Caundle Brook, Cornford Hill, Bishop's Caundle, 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:: Caundle Brook, Cornford Hill, Bishop's Caundle, Dorset

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

District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Bishop's Caundle
District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Holwell
National Grid Reference:: ST6916112044

Summary

Road bridge of c1480 with repairs and restorations of the C18, 1994 and early C21.

Reasons for Designation

Cornford Bridge, a multi-span road bridge of c1480 with repairs and restorations of the C18, 1994 and early C21, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:

* Rarity: it is a significant example of a medieval multi-span bridge of which less than 200 examples are now known to survive in England; * Architectural interest: for such a small bridge its design shows considerable attention to detail with its various components showing a strong ecclesiastical influence; * Survival: although it was been repaired since it was built, its medieval characteristics are still evident along its length and in its vertical dimension, illustrating medieval bridge building techniques; * Historic interest: it is an ongoing testament to medieval road building in England.

History

Cornford Bridge, named after the field name closest to it, was built to carry the road from Bishop’s Caundle to Holwell over the Caundle Brook. It has been dated to around 1480, although it was extensively repaired in the C18. In 1994 the bridge was subjected to a major repair, strengthening and cleaning project. Further repairs were carried out in the early C21 after the parapet was damage by a vehicle strike.

Details

Road bridge of c1480 with repairs and restorations of the C18, 1994 and early C21.

MATERIALS: of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings.

DESCRIPTION: the bridge is aligned north-west to south-east and carries a road of c3m in width across the Caundle Brook. It consists of three spans of pointed arches of which those on the south-west (upstream) side have a double order of voussoirs. Only one arch on the north-east (downstream) side has this treatment. Between the arches are rubble piers. On the south-west side these have triangular-shaped cutwaters with ashlar facing which extend upwards to create pedestrian refuges. Vertical slits incised into the cutwaters appear to be an embellishment rather than having a practical use. On the north-east side the south pier has a coursed rubble cutwater but no refuge above. Its north pier retains a medieval weathered buttress of three stages. A moulded string course runs across both faces of the bridge. The parapets are mainly capped with bevelled coping stones. A small section of parapet wall on the north-east side was rebuilt in the early C21 following a vehicle strike.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 104743
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume III, (1970), 15
Jervoise, E, The Ancient Bridges of the South of England, (1930), 79
McFetrich, D, Parsons, J, Discover Dorset Bridges, (1998), 20
Wallis, A J , Dorset Bridges A History and Guide, (1974), 76-77

Legal

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