Building record 1769/1/2 - Irthlingborough Old Bridge & Attached Causeway

The bridge was probably constructed during the 14th century by Peterborough Abbey. It was modified and repaired during the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

{1}{2} Bridge and attached causeway. Mid C14, datestones 1668, 1829, widened west side in 1754 and 1922. Squared coursed limestone, part banded with ironstone, limestone ashlar and brick. Bridge of 10 double and triple chamfered arches. Those on west side have outer arches with brick voussoirs probably of 1754. Large cutwaters to both sides; 5 on east side have refuges. Datestone 1668 on east side probably refers to restoration. Plaque with cross keys of St. Peter on west side. Central plaque with inscription relates to restoration of 1829. Causeways attached to each end, each of 5 arches, originally formed part of the bridge. Widened on west side and east parapets renewed and refaced in brick and ashlar; probably all of 1922. Medieval arches survive within the arches of the causeway. Originally constructed as a bridge of some 20 arches, probably under instruction of The Abbey of Peterborough. Scheduled as an ancient monument. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.268; V.C.H.: Northamptonshire, Vol.3, p.207).

{3} Medieval bridge, possibly built in the 14th century. 9 arches. The arms of Peterborough Monastery are present on one of the cutwaters. Various widenings have been undertaken.

{5} Documentary; directions for the repair of the bridge in the will of Henry Pyel in 1382

{7} Bridge over River Nene; stone built; 9 arches; probably C14th; cross keys stone; new viaduct was built in 1936

{?} A medieval bridge of 10 arches with variously pointed and round arches. Refuges and cutwaters abound. A 1920s scheme to widen the bridge and its approaches was abandoned half-way through when it was found the entire bridge was on the move seawards

{8} Built probably in the 14th century. It consists of ten ribbed arches of three chamfered orders with five refuge cutwaters on the down-stream side and three further cutwaters at the south end weathering back below the parapet. One of the cutwaters bears the date 1668 denoting, probably, the time of some repair. The bridge was widened on the up-stream side in 1754 by the addition of semicircular brick arches which are advanced nearly to the front of the old cutwaters; on a stone of one of these cutwaters are the arms of Peterborough Monastery. The refuges above on this side have been destroyed. List of additional sources.

{9} A cable trench was excavated within an existing utility trench on the bridge. The excavations were never deeper than the existing service trench, and only occasionally revealed some of the bridge deposits in the base of the trench. Not enough was revealed to add anything to current knowledge.

{10} Three undated photos, also eight photos dated 08.06.1993, one dated 10.01.1994, and four dated July 1995;

{11} Photo dated 1895;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/87 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, 3/207 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.268 (checked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> BROWN G., 1966, All Saints Church, Irthlingborough; Part 1 of the reports and papers of The Northamptonshire Antiquarian Society, 65/3 (unchecked) (Discussion). SNN58064.

<6> Goodfellow P., 1986, Medieval Bridges in Northamptonshire, p.149 (checked) (Article). SNN1781.

<7> Goodfellow P., 1998, Northamptonshire Bridges, (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN42745.

<8> 2011, Our Transport Heritage - Heritage Locations - Irthlingborough, (checked) (Website). SNN107385.

<9> Peachey M., 2014, Archaeological monitoring and recording at Station Road Bridge, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, p. 3 (Report). SNN110507.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Irthlingborough (Photographs). SNN112812.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/160/18 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Feb 28 2024 2:10PM