Stainforth Bridge Explained

Stainforth Bridge
Os Grid Reference:SD818672
Qid:Q26425276
Refs:[1] [2] [3]
Crosses:River Ribble
Locale:Stainforth, North Yorkshire, England
Other Name:Stainforth Packhorse Bridge
Knight Stainforth Bridge
Length:17.4m (57.1feet)
Width:7feet
Number Spans:1

Stainforth Bridge, (also known as Stainforth packhorse bridge and Knight Stainforth bridge) is a 17th century, arched packhorse bridge over the River Ribble in Stainforth, North Yorkshire, England. The bridge was formerly on the main packhorse road between York and Lancaster, which has been superseded by later roads. It was in private ownership until the 1930s, when it was taken on by the National Trust. It is now a grade II listed structure and provides access to Stainforth Force, which is just below the bridge.

History

The bridge was built by Samuel Watson, a local Quaker who owned Knight Stainforth Hall, a Jacobean house which was nearby.[4] [5] [6] Previous to this, the site was a ford which was impassable during times of flood, and a local legend suggests that the crossing was used by the Romans.[7] [8] The bridge carries a minor road, Dog Hill Brow, over the river connecting Knight and Little Stainforth.[9] Besides being a Medieval road linking York and Lancaster, and a monastic route taken by monks between their houses in Yorkshire and the Lake District, the route was also a packhorse road connecting Clapham with Malham. A covenant was drawn up in the year of the bridge's building stating that people on foot, or with carts and cattle, had "free passage between the towns of Knight Stainforth and Stainforth Under Bargh."[10] The bridge was built by using tradesmen from Stainforth-under-Bargh (now the main village of Stainforth), and in return, the people of Stainforth were afforded full usage rights, as the bridge was also a necessity locally.

Both of the bridge abutments are set into solid rock and the bridge itself is long and at its highest point above the normal water level.[11] At its widest point, it reaches 7feet.[12] The limestone that the bridge is built on, is part of the Kilnsey Limestone, which is younger than the Chapel House limestone underneath Stainforth Force, which is only below the bridge.[13] [14]

On 23 September 1931, the bridge went from private ownership into the National Trust, helped by an endowment by the previous owners. Doubts had been expressed about the structure after heavy motor vehicles had been using it, causing the bridge to be weakened.[15] It was thought that the National Trust could enforce restrictions on heavy goods vehicles more effectively than private owners.[8]

The bridge was registered in 1988 by Historic England as a Grade II listed structure under the name of Knight Stainforth Bridge.

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale . OL41 . 2018. 1:25,000 . Explorer . Ordnance Survey . 978-0-319-24280-3 .
  2. Scott . Gillian . Sedimentology of the Mid-Visean limestones of the southern part of the Askrigg Block, North Yorkshire . University of Southampton . Southampton . 1984. 110. 1303707335.
  3. Book: Rennison . R. W. . Civil engineering heritage: Northern England . 1996 . Thomas Telford . London . 07277-2518-1 . 157 . 2.
  4. Book: Scholes . Ron . Yorkshire Dales. . 2006 . Landmark . Ashbourne . 1843062097 . 66 . 3.
  5. News: Moore . Lindsey . Damaged 17th century bridge is closed to traffic . 27 February 2022 . Craven Herald . 1 June 2016.
  6. Book: Speakman . Colin . Walking in the Yorkshire Dales . 1982 . R. Hale . London . 0709196172 . 88.
  7. Book: Mitchell . W. R. . The story of the Yorkshire Dales . 1999 . Phillimore . Chichester . 1860770886 . 71.
  8. News: Dawson . Geoffrey . Geoffrey Dawson. A Yorkshire bridge . The Times . 45936 . 24 September 1931 . 9. 0140-0460.
  9. News: Quantrill . Tim . A walk in spectacular scenery . 27 February 2022 . Craven Herald . 10 October 2014 .
  10. Web site: Asher . Jean . Samuel Watson (c1618-1708)of Knight Stainforth Hall,Quaker. . www.northcravenheritage.org.uk . 27 February 2022.
  11. Web site: Stainforth Packhorse Bridge . engineering-timelines.com . 20 March 2022.
  12. Book: Rennison . R. W. . Civil engineering heritage: Northern England . 1996 . Thomas Telford . London . 07277-2518-1 . 158 . 2.
  13. Book: Speight . Harry . Craven and the north west yorkshire highlands . 1892 . Elliot Stock . London . 134. 650329471.
  14. Web site: Stories in Stone; Settle and Stainforth . storiesinstone.org.uk . 20 March 2022 . 1.
  15. News: Dawson . Geoffrey . Geoffrey Dawson. A Yorkshire bridge . The Times . 45935 . 23 September 1931 . 15. 0140-0460.