Monument record 1298/1/1 - Possible Medieval/Post Medieval Ford

There is a documentary reference to a bridge in Standford Park being constructed in 1705, to replace a ford. It is, however, uncertain which bridge this is. The earliest dates to the 17th or 18th century and was replaced nearby by a bridge constructed in 1844. Another was constructed circa 1760.

{1} Bridge over Avon in Stanford Park took place of a ford where fatal accident occurred in 1705.

{2} (a) The bridge over the Avon in Stanford Park took the place of a ford where a fatal accident occured in 1705. Nichols (b) quoting Sir Thomas Cave writing about 1800 speaks of two bridges in Stanford Park, but not over the Avon. He says the stream which runs in an almost straight line from the large, one-arch waggon-bridge to the four-arch horse-bridge standing in the park mound, close to Bridge Close Lane, was cut to draw off the water which, in times of flood, threatened Sir Thomas' ancestor's mansion house which then stood a few paces from the church [see SP 57 NE 10for Manor House, site of]. The course of the river, which was diverted to form this channel can still be seen, he says, and must beconsidered the county boundary. Russell (c) mentions Nichols' reference to the two bridges and says that neither appeared to carry the public road, and the bridge built at Stanford in 1844 was probably the first to do so.

{3} There are four bridges crossing the Avon in the near vicinity of Stanford Park. Two, at SP 58697883 and SP 58947961, are modern, dated to 1844 by inscribed stones in their parapets. Both have been extensively rebuilt in recent years and contain no visible remains ofearlier bridges. Immediately north of the southernmost, modern bridge at SP 58697884, is a long, narrow bridge, becoming ruinous and obviously replaced by the 1844 structure. It has four four-centred arches of stone with brick and stone forming the upper part. It is probably of C17th/C18th date. At SP 58757902, is a single-arched bridge of stone, which is part of the structure of the dam of the large lake to its north, oconstructedc.1760.

<1> FIRTH J.B., 1926, Highways and Byways of Leicestershire, p.188 (unchecked) (Book). SNN42832.

<2> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, D August O.R 13-APR-1960 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<3> WW, 1960, Field Investigators Comments, 22-AUG-60 (Note). SNN111457.

<4> Nichols J., 1807, The History and Antiquities of The County of Leicester (v.4 pt.1 The Hundred of Guthlaston), P. 350, 367 (Series). SNN42842.

<5> Hoskins, W G and McKinley, R A (eds), 1955, A History of the County of Leicester, P. 90 (Book). SNN114433.

<6> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Oral: Lord Braye, Stanford Hall. (Oral Report). SNN111577.

Record last edited

Apr 25 2025 4:01PM