Smeaton'S Bridge

Smeaton's Bridge is a bridge built around 1800, named after the engineer John Smeaton, who died in 1792 and was a friend of the Whitbread family. It is likely that the bridge was designed by Henry Holland, possibly using Smeaton's structural specifications, as part of his work on Southill Park for Samuel Whitbread II. The bridge is constructed of red brick, with the arch soffit faced in vitrified brick and features ashlar dressings. It has a single span with an elliptical arch. The parapets on both sides include stone piers and coping, with plain brick walling; the southern elevation, which overlooks the lake, has been partly rebuilt. The southern elevation is faced in stone and features simple decoration with incised panels and round-headed niches on the end piers. The parapet piers also have incised panel decoration.