Wansford Bridge (To Cambridgeshire County Boundary)

SIBSON-CUM-STIBBINGTON WANSFORD TL 0699 LONDON ROAD 9/153 Wansford Bridge (to 25.9.51 Cambridgeshire County boundary) GV I Road bridge, formerly carried the Great North Road over the River Nene. Twelve arches; seven northernmost dated 'PM 1577' (Peterborough Magistry), Sir Edward Brudenell of Deene treasurer and surveyor; next three arches repaired with inscriptions 'HVC NORTH P REPARAT SVTV COMITAT 1674' and 'P HVNT HVC REPARAT SVTV COMITAT 1672' on east side cutwater; rebuilding by single span across the main stream and small side arch dated 1795 on oval plaques above keystones on east and west sides. Freestone limestone blocks with freestone and ashlar dressings, (stones with mason's marks). Twelve arches; ten arches to north with coped parapets and moulded string course continuous around V-shaped cutwaters to piers on west side, C16 piers on east side also with cutwaters; plain coped parapet to C18 arches with wider roadway. Seven northern arches semi circular with two plain square orders, three with an added internal order; three repaired arches semi circular with one plain order; semi circular southern arch with ashlar dressings and rising keystone with moulded detail. The stone bridge replaced an earlier wooden bridge with eight arches damaged by floods in 1571, in 1795 the original thirteen arches were reduced to ten following ice and flood damage. The Wansford bypass was constructed in 1929.

R.C.H.M. Huntingdonshire, p234 Y.C.H. Huntingdonshire, p217 Pevsner: Buildings of England, p362 Gilbert, J.L. Stibbington Church and Parish, 1978

Listing NGR: TL0750599111