Bridge Over River Severn

The bridge over the River Severn in Stourport on Severn was largely built in 1870, although it incorporates parts of earlier structures. The main arch is made of cast iron and is flanked by stone-faced brick arches, with a causeway consisting of 25 brick arches to the north and 6 to the south. The lower section of the causeway on the northeast side is constructed of late 18th-century brick, featuring stone springers for the arches. Above this, there is an early 20th-century panelled brick parapet that imitates the 19th-century parapet still present to the northwest. The bridge includes three stone-faced arches that have iron gates, providing access to spiral cast iron stairways leading down to the riverbanks on the west side. The iron arch has a gentle curve, with interlaced circles on the parapet and traceried circles in the spandrels. Each side of the spandrels features a shield with the date and initials S.T.B. This bridge is the third to be built at this location; the first, constructed in 1775 and believed to be designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard, was made of brick with an iron center but was destroyed in 1795. It was replaced in 1806, and remnants of both earlier bridges appear to be incorporated into the current causeway construction.