New Bridge Or Newton Bridge

New Bridge, also known as Newton Bridge, is a bridge located on Newbridge Road West and Bristol Road. It was originally constructed in 1727 with three arches by John Strahan. The bridge was rebuilt with a single arch in the late 18th century and widened by William Armstrong of Bristol between 1831 and 1834.

The bridge is made of limestone ashlar and features a single segmental arch that spans 28 meters, with approaches at both ends. The main arch has rusticated voussoirs, and the spandrels are lightened by circular tunnels with a raised rim. Above the arch is a continuous platband, and the cranked coped parapet adds to its design. The projecting abutments include refuges at road level, while the downstream abutments are plain. The upstream abutments are more decorative, featuring paired pilasters that are battered together to form a pylon with a sunk panel between them. This more monumental treatment may have been intended to be visually striking for travelers approaching from the high road. The approaches to the bridge have eight round-headed arches with cut-waters on either side of the bridge on the upstream side, while the Bath side curves towards the east. A blocked section on the downstream side suggests that there was no intention for these to serve as flood arches; rather, they were a method of building up the embankment.

Historically, the bridge may have been completely rebuilt in the 1830s, but visual evidence indicates that it was widened on both sides from a narrower late 18th-century design, resembling more of a Pont-y-pridd type. During this time, the approaches were also lengthened and raised to improve the gradient. This work was part of significant improvements made by the Bath Turnpike Trust during the General-Surveyorship of John Loudon McAdam from 1826 to 1836. According to John Wood's "Description of Bath" from 1749, the original bridge's drawings were made by Mr. Hobbs for John Strahan of Bristol, but the construction was carried out by Ralph Allen, likely as part of the improvements to the River Avon Navigation, which opened in 1727. The bridge was previously listed separately in Newton St Loe Civil Parish.