Barton Bridge

approximately 85m north-west of Barton Farmhouse, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Former packhorse bridge. C14, with attached mid-C19 footbridge. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1364494
Date first listed:: 18-Apr-1952
List Entry Name:: Barton Bridge
Statutory Address:: approximately 85m north-west of Barton Farmhouse, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

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Date:: 2001-04-08
Reference:: IOE01/04179/11
Rights:: © Gill Cardy. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1364494
Date first listed:: 18-Apr-1952
Date of most recent amendment:: 22-Jun-2017
List Entry Name:: Barton Bridge
Statutory Address 1:: approximately 85m north-west of Barton Farmhouse, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

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:: approximately 85m north-west of Barton Farmhouse, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

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

District:: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Bradford-on-Avon
National Grid Reference:: ST8228860532

Summary

Former packhorse bridge. C14, with attached mid-C19 footbridge.

Reasons for Designation

Barton Bridge, a C14 former packhorse bridge with attached mid-C19 footbridge, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: 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: it is a neatly-made structure with very well-constructed arches to the spans, and cutwaters, and illustrates medieval bridge building techniques; * Degree of survival: although it has been repaired since it was built its medieval characteristics and form remain evident, and its continued use and adaptation in the C19 is an on-going testament to medieval road building in England.

History

Barton Bridge, a former packhorse bridge, dates from the C14, and spans the River Avon to a small island (on which is a Second World War reinforced concrete and brick shell-proof type 24 pillbox), before continuing as a narrower mid-C19 footbridge over the side stream. Documentary records suggest that the cutwaters on the upstream side of the bridge are a later medieval addition. The bridge underwent a scheme of repair in the late C19 and a significant proportion of the facing stones are from this period, and later.

Details

Former packhorse bridge. C14, with attached mid-C19 footbridge.

MATERIALS: built of roughly coursed, dressed stone.

DESCRIPTION: the former packhorse bridge, approximately 85m to the north-west of Barton Farmhouse (Grade I), spans the River Avon to a small island before dividing to form a ramped roadway and a narrower mid-C19 footbridge over the side stream. The packhorse bridge comprises four pointed arches, with recessed pointed arches beneath. The three, triangular cut-waters on the upstream side of the bridge have pyramidal weather cappings. To either side of the north-west end of the bridge are stone buttresses. There are no signs of an earlier parapet but the tall kerb stones (partly buried under later resurfacing of a formerly cobbled road surface) mark the edge of the roadway. These are surmounted with tubular iron railings which continue to the south-east end where the bridge continues over the island with 25m of stone walling to its upstream side. The attached footbridge spans the side stream of the river and comprises two large stone slabs supported on a rectangular stone pier which has been chamfered on its upstream side.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 312658
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Other
Barton Bridge (MWI1982 - ST86SW455), Wiltshire and Swindon Historic Environment Record

Legal

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