GeoGraph - photograph every grid square

· Other Topics

SO9242 : Eckington Bridge and the River Avon

"At Eckington the Avon is crossed by a very fine stone bridge built in 1828. Its six segmental arches are built of red sandstone and have a total span of 43 yards. the parapets are 12 feet apart, but over most of the cutwaters there are recesses for foot passengers.

"According to the Revd A.W. Fletcher in his History of Eckington published in 1933, 'Eckington Brugge' was mentioned in 1440 in a document concerning fishing rights, and in 1573 certain lands were conveyed to trustees 'to the use of the repair maintenance and support of the Bridge and Church at Ekington.' The bridge was stated to be 'in decay' in 1634, and about fifty years later it was estimated that the repairs would cost £300. On the Sheldon tapestry map a wooden pile bridge is shown, but the bridge which was demolished in 1728 had stone piers with a timber superstructure. The agreement for the building of the new bridge is given in full in the History of Eckington, together with several extracts from the churchwardens' accounts. In 1819 the sum of 6s [30p] was paid 'for breaking the ice at the bridge and pushing it away,' and in 1854 £1 1s 4d [about £1.07] was incurred for the same purpose, the work having taken three days. repairs in 1894 cost nearly £100."

E. Jervoise, The ancient bridges of Wales and western England (Architectural Press, 1936), pp. 169-70