Bow Bridge, Plox Explained

Bow Bridge
Coordinates:51.1119°N -2.455°W
Location:Plox, Bruton, Somerset, England
Built:15th century
Designation1:Grade I Listed Building
Designation1 Date:24 March 1961
Designation1 Number:261617
Designation2:Scheduled Ancient Monument
Designation2 Date:29 August 1984
Designation2 Number:Somerset County No 176

Bow Bridge is a 15th-century packhorse bridge over the River Brue in Plox, Bruton, Somerset, England. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building,[1] and Scheduled Ancient Monument.[2]

The bridge may have been built as a link between the former Bruton Abbey, and its courthouse in the High Street.[1] On the parapet on the western side of the bridge the remains of a carved shield can still be seen.[2] It had acquired the name Bow Bridge by 1707.[3]

The narrow bridge of three arches is wide. The main arch of the bridge is built from chamfered blocks of dressed stone.[4]

The bridge was restored after floods on 12 July 1982.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bow Bridge. historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. 2009-07-03.
  2. Web site: Bow Bridge (also known as The Packhorse Bridge), Plox (North West side), Bruton. Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. 2009-07-03.
  3. Web site: Bruton . A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 7: Bruton, Horethorne and Norton Ferris Hundreds (1999), pp. 18-42 . British History Online . 20 November 2010.
  4. Book: Hinchliffe. Ernest. Guide to the Packhorse Bridges of England. 1994. Cicerone. 978-1852841430. 147–148.
  5. Web site: Bow Bridge, Bruton . Transport Heritage . 20 November 2010.