The Light Arch

Bridge carrying the Parlington Estate's south drive over Parlington Lane, late C18, for Sir Thomas Gascoigne

MATERIALS: coursed limestone, probably from the estate's own quarries.

DESCRIPTION: the Light Arch is located approximately one kilometre south-west of Bunkers Hill and carries the estate's south drive over Parlington Lane, which is sunk in a cutting several metres deep. The bridge is similarly detailed on both sides and is constructed of coursed limestone 'bricks' with a segmental arched span incorporating plain voussoirs that springs from quoined jambs and a substantial flush ashlar impost band that was added to raise the bridge in 1837. Above the arch's spandrels there are no parapets and the arch is topped by flat copings. Attached to the bridge on both sides and running north for a short distance alongside Parlington Lane and south-west towards the nearby Dark Arch are high limestone walls with rounded copings that form the walls of the cutting with ramped sections adjacent to the bridge. A central section of walling to the south-west, which originally linked the Light Arch to the nearby Dark Arch has been removed, but some of the footings survive.