Cricklade Town Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Cricklade Town Bridge
Carries:A419 road
Crosses:River Thames
Locale:Cricklade
Material:Limestone
Spans:1
Open:1852
Coordinates:51.6444°N -1.8547°W

Cricklade Town Bridge is a road bridge at Cricklade, Wiltshire, England across the River Thames. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

History

Formerly the bridge marked the ultimate limit of navigation on the River Thames,[2] but the stretch of the river beyond Lechlade has fallen into disuse and the bridge can only be reached by very small craft.[3]

The bridge is single arch level crossing at the north end of the town. It was built in 1854, there being no previous bridge on the site. The original Cricklade crossing was probably closer to the A419 Bridge where it carried Ermin Way. This road was at some time obliterated at the bend north of the bridge, and a road was deflected from it due south through the town.[4] The River Churn joins the Thames just downstream of the bridge.

Architecture

The bridge is built of limestone. On each side of the bridge near the parapet are panels recording its construction. It has a single arch over the Thames with a smaller northern arch which crosses the site of an earlier mill leat.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Town Bridge . National Heritage List for England . Historic England . 7 March 2020.
  2. Fred. S Thacker The Thames Highway Vol II Locks and Weirs 1920
  3. Web site: History of Cricklade . Cricklade Town Council . 7 March 2020.
  4. Fred. S Thacker The Stripling Thames 1909