Building record 442/1/25 - Bridge No. 65

{1} Canal bridge. C.1800. Dressed limestone. Gothick style. Single-span bridge with wide slightly pointed arch and curved feet. Arch has blank cusped panels and keyblock. Semi-octagonal buttresses either side of arch have quatrefoil frieze to base and ogee half-cupolas and are flanked by ogee-headed niches. Panelled parapets with circular piers either end. In 1800 the two halves of the Grand Junction Canal met here. Construction began at Brentford in Middlesex and Braunston, Northamptonshire. It is said that a Colonel Solmons, 'Lord of the Manor', agreed to the cutting of the canal on condition that he was allowed to erect the necessary bridge. However the Lord of the Manor at this time was George Biggin Esq., whose residence, Cosgrove Priory, is in sight of the bridge. The proximity may explain the bridge's unusually ornamental appearance. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1933, p159; Wolverton Historical Journal: 1970, pp34-40)

{5}{6} Unusually elaborate stone bridge (No. 65) crossing the Grand Union Canal, built in the Gothic style. The ornamentation was the result of a 'bargain' agreed between the landowner and the canal company when extra land was acquired to divert the public road to serve the village on the eastern side of the canal. The bridge is now known as 'Solomon's Bridge'

{7} Undated photo; and photo dated 29/11/90; and photo dated 29/11/90 from different angle; and photo dated 29/10/93;

1990?, Bridge No. 4157 (Ornamental), Cosgrove (Photographs). SNN108809.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/7 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F11 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.159 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> MYNARD D.C., 1970, Wolverton Historical Journal, p.34-40 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN19512.

<5> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, Site 72 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.

<6> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2011, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition), Site 74 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN107622.

<7> Various, Various, Photographs of buildings in Cosgrove (Photographs). SNN111598.

Record last edited

Aug 14 2019 12:23PM