Atcham Bridge

Atcham Bridge, a former road bridge built between 1769 and 1771, was designed by John Gwynne of Shrewsbury for the County of Shropshire. Constructed from grey sandstone ashlar, this humped-back bridge features seven graded, round arches with banded rusticated soffits and voussoirs. Each arch is adorned with a group of triple keystones, which include fluted outer stones surrounding a central stone with vermiculated rustication. The arches spring from piers that have concave-capped breakwaters at their bases. Above the arches, there is a string course, and the bridge is topped with a coped parapet that ramps up to central pediments and date stones. The structure is buttressed by curved end piers that are capped with pyramidal stones. The piers are complemented by carved scrolls and low curved parapet walls. The central half-H date stones are inscribed: "THIS BRIDGE/Was erected at the Expence [sic] of the County/MDCCLXXXI/JOHN GWYNN Arch."