Sharford Footbridge
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1427065
- Date first listed:
- 15-Jul-2015
- List Entry Name:
- Sharford Footbridge
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1427065
- Date first listed:
- 15-Jul-2015
- List Entry Name:
- Sharford Footbridge
- Location Description:
- Corfe Castle, Purbeck, Dorset. Located at SY 9666584767.
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
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Corfe Castle
- National Grid Reference:
- SY9666684768
Summary
A footbridge or droving bridge of medieval origins, at least partially rebuilt in the C17 or C18, which crosses the River Corfe.
Reasons for Designation
Sharford Bridge, a footbridge or droving bridge of medieval origins, at least partially rebuilt in the C17 or C18, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Intact survival: although at least partially rebuilt in the C17 or C18, the medieval bridge has suffered little alteration since that time;
* Rarity: the bridge is a rare survival of this form of medieval structure which was once much more common across England.
History
A medieval footbridge, which was mentioned in a document of 1575 but which appears to be of an earlier date. The parapet has been partially rebuilt.
Details
A footbridge which crosses the River Corfe. Most probably of medieval origin.
MATERIALS: rubble stone with unmetalled road surface.
DESCRIPTION: The footbridge crosses the River Corfe on an area of heathland to the north east of Corfe Castle, within the Isle of Purbeck. The bridge includes two spans with two-centred arches. The western arch is pointed in style, while the eastern one is rounded. The bridge includes stone parapets with rustic style coping. The structure has maximum dimensions of 7m by 2.3m and the distance between the parapets is 1.3m.
Sources
Books and journals
RCHM, Dorset, vol.II, pt.1, (1970), 9
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 07-Jun-2026 at 12:37:35.
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.