Building record 3471/0/6 - The Green Bridge

Mid 18th century ornamental bridge in Horton Park comprising three arches, constructed of dressed limestone. It is situated between two lakes and acted as a weir or low dam. It also carries a drive leading from Horton Hall to the Menagerie.

{1} Stream which was dammed to form two rectangular bodies of water was later in the mid C18th dammed to form two serpentine lakes which snake through the park. They are divided by the dam in the guise of a substantial rusticated bridge called The Green Bridge. It presumably presumably carried the drive to The Menagerie. Sanderson Miller is reported to have been at Horton designing Gothic Bridges for Lord Halifax in the 1740s. The bridge is designed so that water flows over a cascade built below the bridge but the top lake has been drained at least since 1920s. It originally extended east to meet the north end of New Plantation where a raised mound formed an island. Horace Walpole writing in 1763 referred to the garden as having "..a fine piece of water..".

{2} Bridge. Mid C18. Dressed limestone. 3-arch bridge. Low depressed arches, broad piers, recessed rectangular panels above arches, uniform vermiculated rustication and corbel blocks to cornice. No balustrades. Diagonal retaining walls to west side, with similar rustication. Bridge formerly stood between two lakes, the lower of which survives. The bridge is higher to west side and formerly acted as a weir or low dam maintaining level of water in lake to east side, now drained. The bridge carried a drive from Horton Hall (demolished 1936) through park to the Menagerie (q.v.) and is close to the icehouse (q.v.).

{4} Undated photo;

<1> English Heritage, 1994, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1994, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1324.

<2> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 8/112 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<3> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Hackleton (Photographs). SNN112513.

Record last edited

Nov 7 2022 12:40PM