Bridgnorth Bridge was originally constructed around 1101, when the town of Bridgnorth was established in Shropshire. The fortified bridge had a gatehouse and a chapel, and was a key crossing over the River Severn. It was rebuilt in 1823, and only fragments of masonry now survive.
History
Bridgnorth was established by the Norman lord Robert de Belleme in 1101, when he moved the existing borough of Quatford to a more defensible site., just to the north. A bridge was constructed there, which was the only bridge crossing over the River Severn between Worcester and Shrewsbury, until a bridge was eventually constructed at Bewdley in 1447.
The bridge was constructed from stone, variously described in contemporary accounts as having seven or eight arches, and protected with a gatehouse on the eastern side. The bridge also had its own chapel, dedicated to St Sythe,1St Sythe was an Anglo-Saxon saint, who miraculously escaped drowning while cross a river. probably located over the gatehouse. The chapel came to be managed by the Franciscan friars, with a bridge master appointed by the borough. By the 18th century, there was also a small lean-to building, possibly forming accommodation for a gatekeeper.
The chapel fell out of use after 1538 when the friars were suppressed during the Reformation, although the chapel had been struggling as an institution for many years. The gatehouse then appears to have been used as the town gaol for a period.
The bridge was rebuilt in 1823 by Thomas Telford, with a new six arch structure. Probably at the same time, the gatehouse was pulled down, to improve the flow of traffic. The lean-to was removed at some point after this, and a new gaol built in the town. Some fragments of medieval masonry remain within the footings of the current bridge.
Bibliography
- Clark-Maxwell, W.G. (1923) “Bridgnorth: The Bridge and its Chapel,” Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Volume 42, Part 1, p. 118-125.
Attribution
The text of this page is licensed under under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Photographs on this page include those drawn from the British Museum website, as of 29 May 2020, and attributed and licensed as follows: adapted from “Bridgnorth Bridge, c.1797“, photograph copyright The Trustees of the British Museum, released under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.