The Fosse Way Bridge

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Overview

Former packhorse bridge built in the mid-C18. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1475855
Date first listed:: 16-Jul-2021
List Entry Name:: The Fosse Way Bridge

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1475855
Date first listed:: 16-Jul-2021
List Entry Name:: The Fosse Way Bridge
Location Description:: The Fosse Way, Long Newnton, Gloucestershire

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:: Gloucestershire
District:: Cotswold (District Authority)
Parish:: Long Newnton
County:: Gloucestershire
District:: Cotswold (District Authority)
Parish:: Shipton Moyne
National Grid Reference:: ST9101190260

Summary

Former packhorse bridge built in the mid-C18.

Reasons for Designation

The Fosse Way Bridge in Long Newnton, Gloucestershire is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as an example of a mid-C18 packhorse bridge that survives largely unaltered, retaining a significant proportion of its original fabric; * as a well-constructed and neatly made bridge demonstrated in the quality of its masonry with features such as the narrow-cut voussoirs.

Historic interest:

* for its contribution to our understanding of the evolution and development of packhorse routes in the C18.

History

The Fosse Way Bridge, a former packhorse bridge, dates from the mid-C18. Spanning the River Avon along the historic route of The Fosse Way, a Roman road built during the C1 and C2 that linked Exeter in the south-west to Lincoln in the north-east, the bridge is identified as ‘Foss Way Bridge’ on Andrew’s and Drury’s Map of Wiltshire (1773). It is also labelled as the ‘Foss Bridge’ on the Ordnance Survey (OS) map of 1829-1830, and is shown as being on ‘The Foss Road’ connecting Bath and Cirencester on the tithe map for the parish of Long Newnton (1838). The tithe map demonstrates that the bridge was on land owned by Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt, and formed, at that time, part of a route that ran through the Estcourt Estate. The 1st edition (1886) Ordnance Survey map, and subsequent maps, show the bridge as a footbridge, as it continues to survive today as part of a public footpath.

Details

Former packhorse bridge built in the mid-C18.

MATERIALS: built of coursed Cotswold limestone.

DESCRIPTION: the former packhorse bridge comprises a single segmental arch with narrow voussoirs and low parapet walls with large flat coping stones.

Sources

Other
Andrew’s and Drury’s Map of Wiltshire (1773)
Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record, 'Post Medieval footbridge shown by the Ordnance Survey first edition across the River Avon (Tetbury Branch)between Long Newton and Shipton Moyne parishes.' (42610)
OS Map 1" (1829-30 edn)
OS Map 6” (1886 edn)
Tithe map for the parish of Long Newnton (1838)

Legal

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