Listed Building record MDO13572 - Town Bridge, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton

Bridge of about 1500, widened in the seventeenth century. Six pointed arches built of ashlar and squared rubble, originals visible beneath the seventeenth century additions. Pointed cutwaters between arches, those at the centre being corbelled out to support pedestrian refuges. It bears a plaque warning that the penalty for malicious damage to the bridge may be transportation for life.

TOWN BRIDGE (78451355), about 1/4 m. S.W. of the church, spans the Stour with six arches of ashlar and squared rubble, 18 ft. wide and 120 ft. in total length (Plate 51). It is of late 15th or early 16th-century origin, and it was widened in the 17th century. The original arches, which carried a road about 12 ft. wide, are seen from both sides of the bridge behind the 17th-century additions; they are two-centred, with chamfered ashlar archivolts ending in run-out stops at springing level. The arches are slightly gradated. The added 17th-century arches are segmental-pointed and spring from corbelled spring-courses inserted above the cut-waters of the original piers. Between each pair of arches the points of the cut-waters are carried up to road level. The central cut-waters are larger than the others and are corbelled out at the top to support pedestrian refuges on both sides of the road. <2> ST 78451357. Town Bridge (Name in local usage), and the arched Causeway (at ST 78471365) remain as described by RCHM (2). Both structures are in an excellent state of preservation. (Se photographs) <3>

Record last edited

Jan 24 2022 12:21PM