Five Arch Bridge

SP 61 NE WOTTON UNDERWOOD WOTTON HOUSE

3/173 Five Arch Bridge

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II Dam with overflow and ornamental bridge. Probaby built circa 1758-60, to a design by Sanderson Miller, who is known to have designed a bridge for George Grenville in 1758. The structure is modelled on William Kent’s Shell Bridge at Stowe. Coursed rubble and fossiled stone with ashlar dressings. Piers have ashlar plinths, quoins and pedimented copings. Ashlar band along top of bridge, no parapet. 5 segmental arches, the central arch slightly projecting with pediment to west side, the east side damaged. This arch has overflow channel to lower lake. Bridge curves outwards at each end. Below bridge on east side dam has matching stone facing with blind arches flanking central overflow arch.

The historic designed landscape surrounding an early-C18 country house, with a contemporary layout, probably by George London and Henry Wise, developed into an extensive mid-C18 park for George Grenville by Lancelot Brown; William Pitt, later first Earl of Chatham, is credited with significant input with regard to the design.

Listing NGR: SP6779615929

The List entry was subject to a Minor Enhancement on 10 August 2016 as part of the tercentenary celebrations of Lancelot Capability Brown's birth.