Cowley Bridge

UPTON PYNE

290/3/59 COWLEY 30-JUN-61 COWLEY BRIDGE

II*

UPTON PYNE COWLEY SX 99 NW 3/59 Cowley Bridge 30.6.61 - II* Road bridge across the River Exe. 1813-14. By James Green, Civil Engineer and Surveyor for the County of Devon. Ashlar span of 3 segmented arches; pilasters between arches with round-headed niches below parapet, and small recessed panels above. Dentilled band at road level, and coped parapet. Voussoirs are of Thorverton stone, as are the abutments to either end, and these contrast nicely with the red sandstone of the main structure. Low cutwaters. Cowley Bridge was built to replace a 12-arched bridge at the joint expense of the County of Devon and the Chamber of Exeter in the mayoralities of B W Johnson Burnes Pitch and John Flour Esquires. This information, together with the date of the laying of the first stone (22nd June 1813) is recorded on 2 inscription panels facing each other on the parapet. The bridge cost £9,000 and is Green's most important bridge. Sources: [1] NMR; typescript article, James Green, civil engineer, 1781-1849, County Bridge Surveyor of Devon, 1808-1841 by A B George. [2] Buildings of England, p. 410. Cowley Bridge spans the River Exe and is partly in the City of Exeter and partly in Upton Pyne parish.

Listing NGR: SX9073395502