The Town Bridge

A C13 packhorse bridge widened in the C17, probably with the addition of the Chapel, and with later alterations.

MATERIALS: ashlar and rubble limestone.

DESCRIPTION: the bridge, over the River Avon, is of nine arches with cutwaters on the upstream (east) side. All arches on the west side are semi-circular and of C17 date. The east side retains two original C13 arches (south end), ribbed and pointed. The remainder are semi-circular and the cutwaters have weather capping. One cutwater towards the south end extends to form a pier and is stepped out in graduated corbelling to support the Chapel. At the south end of the bridge there are steps down to a platform on the west side, the former location of the ford. The low parapet walls adjoining the bridge have some adaptation, including C20 metal railings and bollards. Street lamps, which appear to be mainly of C20 date, are fixed at intervals to the top of both parapet walls along the bridge.

The Chapel is almost square in plan, has four small square window openings with iron bars, two overlooking the river and one on each side. A narrow three-centred arch doorway gives access from bridge. There is a moulded eaves cornice and just below it on the side elevations are two iron tie ends. The domed roof rises (following the square plan of the chapel) in a series of offsets and terminates in a heavy stone finial surmounted by a weather vane. The rotating vane includes a copper-gilt fish, the "Bradford Gudgeon", which may be C16 in date. There is short chimney stack on the river side of roof. The timber plank door has iron fitments and bracing around the door. It opens into a lobby with iron drains at both ends. Beyond the lobby are two cells formed by a stone partition wall. The interior has a stone-vaulted roof in line with the dome. There is ironwork bracing to the walls and around the window openings. Further iron fittings include a bed, a latrine and a further door. Another cell bed appears to be of steel.