Building record 426/0/3 - The Cascade Bridge, Stanford Park

{1} Mentions two bridges in Stanford Park but not over River Avon; a large single-arch waggon bridge.

{2} Neither bridge in the park appeared to carry public road.

{3} A single-arched bridge of stone; part of the structure of the dam of a large lake to its north. It was constructed circa 1760.

{4} The lake was created by a weir with bridge over it; it was constructed pre 1746 for Sir Thomas Cave.

{5} Bridge over weir. Late C18. Stone bridge with low segmental arch with keystone. Low parapets with five stone bollards on top on each side, with iron chains stretched between them.

{6} The Cascade Bridge is situated immediately south of the cascade which is the principal outfall from the lake to the north. The single arched bridge spans the channel dug to divert the river away from the site of the earlier hall at Stanford. It connects the parkland on the west bank of the river to the village via the ‘Waterfall Drive’ which passes to the north of the walled garden and is flanked by an avenue of lime trees. The little used route of the gravelled drive across the parkland is evident, although the gravel surface to the bridge and the drives to either side are gradually becoming grassed over due to lack of traffic.
Sir Thomas Cave had inherited the estate in 1734 and was responsible for thinning some of the formal avenues, creating the Serpentine to the west c.1746 and forming the lake by damming the River Avon. As part of this improvement it is probable that the Cascade Bridge was constructed with the cascade c.1740. The ‘new bridge’ is referred to in 1747, when repairs to flood gates are recorded in labourers’ accounts. (The sluice is likely to be that adjacent to the west [east?].)
The north and south elevations of the bridge are faced with Lias limestone which conceals a rubble stone core. Repairs have been carried out in Ketton Stone. The arch spanning the river is a brick construction. The route of the carriageway across the bridge is defined on each side by five Derbyshire Grit stone bollards which support an iron chain. Additional holes in the bollards suggest that they once held a second, lower chain. The bollards may be a later addition, hence the change in stone. Some adjustment to the structure of the bridge has been carried out to accommodate a puzzling, slight misalignment with the avenue to the east.
Immediately north of the bridge, the lake flows out and down a stepped weir or cascade to the stream over which the bridge spans. Splayed brick abutments either side of the weir are built up to the north side of the bridge.
The condition of the stonework is generally fair. A large section of ashlar facing has fallen out of the west abutment on the south elevation, as well as the occasional individual stones. Two of the bollards have lost their tops and are no longer vertical. The brick cheeks either side of the cascade on the north side of the bridge are in poor condition, with some collapse into the water. Attention to the repair of the bridge will prevent further deterioration.
Additional management information is presented along with plans, elevations and photographs.

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

<2> RUSSELL P., 1955, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Leicestershire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN42825.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP57NE9 (part checked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> English Heritage, 1994, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1994, Leicestershire), Stanford Hall Park (checked) (Report). SNN42820.

<5> English Heritage, 2000, Listed Buildings Online, LBUID 191494 (unchecked) (Database). SNN105526.

<6> Donald Insall Associates, 2010, Historic Building Recording for The Cascade Bridge, Stanford Hall, Stanford-On-Avon, Leicestershire, (checked) (Report). SNN107117.

Record last edited

Sep 9 2014 3:24PM