Building record 4740/1/1 - Wakerley Bridge

Medieval bridge. Five pointed arches, double-chamfered ribs. Built in the 15th century with 18th-century alterations.

{1} Bridge over River Welland at Wakerley. This was widened in stone by about 2ft in the C18th but the five pointed arches can be seen clearly under the segmental ones upstream and are unchanged downstream. They were built without ribs and the cutwaters weather back and are tapered off just below the coping so there are no refuges although the roadway was only 10ft wide. The county boundary with Rutland is indicated by carved heads on each side of the second arch from the Rutland end and, as at Collyweston, the repairs have been carried out independently by the two counties. Of the three arches in Northamptonshire one is dry and it may be that the next was a dry arch at one time, leaving three to cross the main stream, the heads then being on the middle arch.

{2} Medieval bridge. 1224 indulgence granted to those crossing the bridge who gave towards repair. Pontage is also mentioned in 14th and 15th centuries.

{3} Bridge. Probably C15, partially legible C18 datestone probably records widening. Limestone ashlar. Six arches. Arch to south end is semi-circular and was probably added C18, others are double chamfered pointed arches. Cutwaters between arches, with pyramid copings. West side widened with semi-circular arches over the original arches. Plain parapets, probably rebuilt C18, have plain pilasters, between bays, to outside of each parapet. Carved head above second arch from north end, on west side and datestone above second arch from south end, also on west side. Wakerley Bridge is scheduled as an Ancient Monument.
(Leicestershire entry: Bridge. Medieval, widened C18. Ashlar. 5 pointed chamfered arches underneath 5 rounded arches. 5 cutwater with broaches on both sides. Over 2nd arch and on upstream side a carved head corbel. Stone coped parapet to bridge and ramps. Carries road over River Welland.)

{5} 'Wakerle brigge' is mentioned in the Inqu. Post Mortem of 1298.

{7} Undated photo;

<1> Goodfellow P., 1986, Medieval Bridges In Northamptonshire, p.150+157 (checked) (Article). SNN1771.

<2> Goodfellow P., 1998, Northamptonshire Bridges, (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN42745.

<3> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/168 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<4> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G11 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<5> 1298, Inquisitions Post Mortem (3), p.377 (unchecked) (Document). SNN60005.

<6> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 632 (Book). SNN111989.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Wakerley (Photographs). SNN114132.

<8> Historic England, Undated, WAKERLEY BRIDGE, WAKERLEY, BF084567 (Archive). SNN116124.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2024 11:21AM