Thornborough Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Thornborough Bridge
Carries:Pedestrians (from 1974)
A421 road (pre-1974)
Crosses:Padbury Brook, tributary of River Great Ouse
Locale:Buckingham/Thornborough parish border, Buckinghamshire
Material:Stone
Spans:6
Pierswater:3
Length:30m (approx)
Width:4m (approx)
Open:14th century
Coordinates:51.9925°N -0.9394°W
Heritage:Grade I listed structure

Thornborough Bridge is situated on the original Bletchley to Buckingham road, now bypassed by a modern bridge in 1974 for the A421. The bridge is accessible to pedestrians from an adjacent lay-by.

The bridge straddles the parish boundaries of Thornborough and Buckingham, where the parish boundary follows the line of Padbury Brook (also known as The Twins), a tributary of the River Great Ouse. Dating back to the end of the 14th century,[1] [2] it is the only surviving mediaeval bridge in Buckinghamshire. The parish division is marked by a boundary stone in the middle of the bridge.[3]

The stone bridge measures approximately 30m (100feet) long and 4m (13feet) wide, spanning the river with six low arches.[4] Three refuges are formed within the parapet on the south side.

The bridge is Grade I listed by English Heritage.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thornborough Bridge, Buckingham. Transport Heritage. 23 January 2015.
  2. [Aylesbury Vale District Council|AVDC]
  3. Book: Parishes: Thornborough. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp237-242. Victoria History of the Counties of England. A History of the County of Buckingham . 4. 23 January 2015. 237–242. 1927.
  4. Web site: Plate 71: Thornborough and Buckingham, Thornborough Bridge. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire, Volume 2, North. 23 January 2015. 71. 1913.
  5. Web site: Thornborough Bridge, Buckingham. British Listed Buildings. 23 January 2015.