Cleveland Bridge And Four Former Toll Houses

The Cleveland Bridge and four former toll houses date to 1827, with a significant reconstruction in 1928 and repairs in 1992. Designed by Henry Edmund Goodridge and constructed by William Hazeldine, the bridge was commissioned by the Earl of Darlington, who became Marquess of Cleveland in 1827. It spans the River Avon and stands near the possible site of Bath’s Roman bridge.

The bridge itself is a single span with six segmental arched trusses and trellised iron spandrels, resting on massive limestone ashlar abutments. The cast iron parapet features a moulded coping and plinth, with central panels displaying the date "MDCCCXXVII" and the names of the architect and engineer. Flanked by long panels with pierced vertical slits and Grecian rosettes, lamp standards are set into the piers, and inscriptions record the 1928 reconstruction by Bath City engineers. The bridge carries a road approximately 12 metres wide.

Flanking the approaches are four former toll houses, designed as small Doric temples with prostyle porticos facing the road. Constructed of limestone ashlar with Welsh slate roofs, they descend three storeys through rusticated plinths to the river bank, originally providing accommodation for toll keepers. The bridge replaced an earlier structure and opened up the Bathwick Estate, providing a more dignified approach to the city.

The bridge is considered one of the finest late Georgian bridges in the Greek Revival style, and a notable example of Henry Edmund Goodridge's work within his larger Cleveland Terrace development. The 1928 rebuilding retained the architectural elements but replaced the original Regency ironwork. The 1992-93 restoration was undertaken by Dorothea Restoration.