Monument record 6896/0/1 - Post-medieval/modern bridge over Silverstone Brook

At least two phases of bridge building, with the observation of the remains of a post-medieval brick built bridge preceding the modern bridge (itself now demolished).

{1} The archaeological observations identified coursed post-medieval brickwork from the remains of the earliest surviving bridge on the site which probably dated to the 17th or 18th centuries.
The small area of stone cobbles may date to the same period as the earliest surviving bridge and may represent an attempt to level the bed of the stream beneath the brick arches. It is also possible that area of cobbles may have been a surface for a ford which predated the first bridge on the site.
The re-used stone and brick wall may have been a retaining wall for the steep soil and turf stream bank immediately to the west of the bridge. Although it is possible that some of the ironstone blocks within the wall may be medieval in date and may have originated from a church or priory in the locality, the presence of modern mortar within the wall would appear to indicate that it was not associated with the site of a medieval or post-medieval watermill which may have existed in the locality.

Prior to works starting on site the modern brick and stone bridge had been demolished.

<1> Muldowney, M. and Sharman, T., 2015, A programme of archaeological observation, investigation, recording and analysis for a culvert replacement scheme Silverstone, Northamptonshire, checked (Report). SNN110401.

<2> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 45 (Journal). SNN111326.

Record last edited

Jan 24 2019 12:34PM