Ribchester Bridge
In today's world, Ribchester Bridge has become a topic of great relevance, its implications are as diverse as they are influential in contemporary society. From its impact on the economy to its impact on popular culture, Ribchester Bridge has gained unprecedented prominence in the global sphere. Over the years, it has aroused the interest of both academics and experts and the general population, generating a constant debate that seeks to understand its multiple facets and consequences. In this article, we will explore in detail the different dimensions of Ribchester Bridge and its impact in different areas, providing a broad and complete view of its importance today.
Ribchester Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The northern side of the bridge in 2006 | |
| Coordinates | 53°48′57″N 2°30′52″W / 53.81593°N 2.51435°W |
| Carries | B6245 (Ribchester Road) |
| Crosses | River Ribble |
| Locale | Clayton-le-Dale, Lancashire, England |
| Heritage status | Grade II listed |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 71.8 metres (236 ft) |
| Longest span | 23.2 metres (76 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1774 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | Yes |
| Toll | No |
| Location | |
 | |
Ribchester Bridge is a toll-free, three-span bridge over the River Ribble near Ribchester, Lancashire, England. A Grade II listed structure, located about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) east of the village, it actually crosses the river between the civil parishes of Clayton-le-Dale and Dutton.[1] The bridge carries the two-lane traffic of the B6245 Ribchester Road.[2]
Thought to have been constructed in 1774, it is built of sandstone and consists of three segmental arches on triangular cutwaters, with a string course and a solid parapet.[3][1] The bridge has an overall length 71.8 metres (236 ft) and width of 6.8 metres (22 ft) (deck plus 300-millimetre (12 in)-wide parapets). The central span in the largest at 23.2 metres (76 ft) with a rise of 5.5 metres (18 ft), with the others of differing, slightly smaller dimensions.[2]
This point on the river is above the tidal limit, the banks approximately 27 metres (90 ft) above the Ordnance datum.[4] It has been an important crossing for millennia with the Roman fort here positioned to guard it;[5] however, the origin of the earliest bridge is uncertain.[6] The current bridge's predecessor had been constructed in 1669.[7] William Stukeley in his 'Itinerarium Curiosum', published in 1721, described it as "a noble bridge of four very large arches" half a mile above Ribchester.[8] The county authorities must have been aware of problems, as in 1769 tenders were invited for its reconstruction, but it collapsed during a flood in 1772.[7][9]
That bridge had also replaced another of unknown age.[9] A charter of 1354 gave permission for the building of a bridge of wood or stone across the river at a place called 'Madynford', also granting some land for the use of the ferryman; however, this was possibly considerably downstream, near Osbaldeston Hall,[6] where a ferry-crossing was still recorded in the mid-19th century.[4]
See also
References
Citations
- ^ a b Historic England & 1072294
- ^ a b Engineering Timelines
- ^ Hartwell & Pevsner (2009), p. 573
- ^ a b OS 6in map
- ^ Whitaker (1872), p. 17(footnote)
- ^ a b Whitaker (1876), pp. 463–464
- ^ a b Jervoise (1931), pp. 137–138
- ^ Whitaker (1872), p. 21
- ^ a b Smith & Shortt (1890), p. 263
Sources
- Hartwell, Clare; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2009) , Lancashire: North, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-12667-9
- Historic England, "Ribchester Bridge, Clayton-le-Dale (1072294)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 July 2015
- Jervoise, Edwyn (1931), "The Ancient Bridges of the North of England", The Geographical Journal, 78 (3), Architectural Press: 292, Bibcode:1931GeogJ..78Q.292R, doi:10.2307/1784904, JSTOR 1784904
- Smith, Thomas Charles; Shortt, Jonathan (1890), The History of the Parish of Ribchester..., Bemrose & sons, retrieved 19 September 2021
- Whitaker, Thomas Dunham (1872), An history of the original Parish of Whalley, and honor of Clitheroe... 4th ed., vol. 1, George Routledge, OCLC 697798990, retrieved 19 September 2021
- Whitaker, Thomas Dunham (1876), An history of the original Parish of Whalley, and honor of Clitheroe... 4th ed., vol. 2, George Routledge, OCLC 697798990, retrieved 19 September 2021
- "Engineering Timelines – Ribchester Bridge", www.engineering-timelines.com, retrieved 11 September 2021
- "Lancashire LIV" (Map), National Library of Scotland, 1:1,560, 6 inch, Ordnance Survey, 1848, retrieved 9 September 2021
External links
