Bridge To Pool Approx 50M N Of The Church Of St Paul

PRIOR PARK 656-1/67/1282

Bridge to pool approx 50m N of the Church of St Paul (Formerly Listed as: PRIOR PARK Screen wall to pool below the West Pavilion and Church of St Paul) 05/08/75

GV II

Ornamental bridge with pool. c1740-1750, possibly by Richard Jones. MATERIALS: Limestone ashlar. PLAN: Low central segmental arch with alternating vermiculated voussoirs surmounted by moulded closed pediment, tympanum also vermiculated. To each side of this, in shallow quadrants, lower ashlar walls are stopped to wide piers or walls, also with small arch with vermiculated voussoirs, parts originally with weathered copings, mostly missing at time of inspection (September 1994), and with stone threshold carried across from walling. Outer, convex face of bridge simple ashlar, some badly worn. In front of bridge roughly circular basin with ashlar wall to plain uncoped top at grass level, and central fountain. Excavations under way at time of inspection have revealed three small semicircular basins behind three arches, some limits of former serpentine lake which flowed out to west from bridge, and some straight ashlar walling, probably part of earlier more formal canal associated with bridge. SOURCES: Clarke G: Prior Park: A Compleat Landscape: Bath: 1987-: 48, 55.

Listing NGR: ST7613762953