Battlesbridge

Battlesbridge is a road bridge that crosses the tidal River Crouch, built around 1872 by William Webster from St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square, London, at a cost of £3,500. The bridge features a cast iron central arch and gault brick side arches, complete with brick parapets and end pillars. The central ribbed arch spans 47 feet and has a cast iron panelled face on the east side, adorned with five foliated tie bosses and a trellised cast iron parapet with a moulded rail. Each side arch measures 20 feet and includes brick rusticated keystones and moulded bases. There is a moulded band over the arch and chamfered coping. The central pillars have moulded heads, while the end pillars feature chamfered heads and rounded cut waters. The total length of the bridge is 117 feet. Historical records indicate that bridges have existed at this site since 1372. The previous bridge, built around 1845 by Thomas Hopper, was demolished by a steam traction engine, leading to strict specifications for the new bridge. The girders were required to be constructed and tested in the contractor's yard under the architect's supervision, with specific weight requirements to ensure structural integrity. The bridge originally had a clear width of 18 feet between the parapets and has carried all road traffic across the River Crouch for over a century. Recently, the bridge was widened on the west face to accommodate two-lane traffic. The original finials from the bridge are now displayed in front of Cromwell House in Rettendon, located to the northwest of the bridge.