Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Bridge mentioned 1325, 1475 & 1488. Medieval pottery found

Monument Types

• BRIDGE (BRIDGE, Medieval to Modern - 1325 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 69074976] Twyford Bridge [NR) (1) A Medieval bridge. Pottery (period unknown) found here in 1949. (2) Twyford Bridge; a superb stone erection of medieval times. There is a ford beside it. (3) The Medway has several fine medieval bridges, notably Twyford Bridge, which is unusual in having four-centred arches and therefore belonging to the late Gothic period. (4) Twyford Bridge has four pointed arches, four-centred in shape but the radius of the lower parts of the curve are greater than is usual in arches of that kind. The cut waters are very massive and have recesses for foot passengers at the road level, which were very necessary, the bridge being c. 12 feet in width between the parapets with a span of 40 yards over the river. There is also an adjoining causeway of the same length, scarcely a foot wider than the bridge. The bridge is mentioned in an Inquisition of 1325 and in wills of 1475 and 1488. (5) Architectural description by Authority 5 correct. The lower parts of the bridge are of coursed and dressed masonry but the upper part is of poorer workmanship and the coursing irregular. The parapets are of brick with stone and brick copings. (6) Mr. L.R.A. Grove, Curator of Maidstone Museum could offer no further information regarding the pottery found here. His information (authority 2) was based on secondhand information, not subsequently confirmed or enlarged upon. (7) No change. (8) Twyford Bridge. Grade I. (9) TQ 691497. Twyford Bridge. Scheduled No. 30. (10) Additional bibliography. (11-12) No longer Listed. (13)

A watching brief in 2008 recorded adjustments to the northern end, whereby the ramp was widened and the parapet adjusted to reduce the likelihood of continuing collisions with the structure. Part of the original construction cut for the bridge was exposed in a test pit. No datable material was recovered. (17)

From the Registered schedule of Monuments:

At the junction of the 'new cut' to save a very circuitous bend of the River Medway. A long stone bridge with a new brick parapet. Five pointed arches. (18)



Summary of Monument

Twyford Bridge, 104m ESE of The Anchor Inn
Reasons for Designation

Multi-span bridges are structures of two or more arches supported on piers. They were constructed throughout the medieval period for the use of pedestrians and packhorse or vehicular traffic, crossing rivers or streams, often replacing or supplementing earlier fords. During the early medieval period timber was used, but from the 12th century stone (and later brick) bridges became more common, with the piers sometimes supported by a timber raft. Most stone or brick bridges were constructed with pointed arches, although semicircular and segmental examples are also known. A common medieval feature is the presence of stone ashlar ribs underneath the arch. The bridge abutments and revetting of the river banks also form part of the bridge. Where medieval bridges have been altered in later centuries, original features are sometimes concealed behind later stonework, including remains of earlier timber bridges. The roadway was often originally cobbled or gravelled. The building and maintenance of bridges was frequently carried out by the church and by guilds, although landowners were also required to maintain bridges. From the mid-13th century the right to collect tolls, known as pontage, was granted to many bridges, usually for repairs; for this purpose many urban bridges had houses or chapels on them, and some were fortified with a defensive gateway. Medieval multi-span bridges must have been numerous throughout England, but most have been rebuilt or replaced and less than 200 examples are now known to survive. As a rare monument type largely unaltered, surviving examples and examples that retain significant medieval and post-medieval fabric are considered to be of national importance.

Despite later alterations and repair work, Tyword Bridge is a well preserved example of a medieval multi-span bridge. It will provide evidence for medieval methods of construction. Deposits buried underneath the bridge will preserve artefactual, ecofactual and environmental evidence, providing information about the human and natural history of the site prior to the construction of the bridge.
History

See Details
Details

This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes a medieval multi-span bridge situated over the River Medway south-west of Yalding.

The bridge is constructed of coursed and dressed masonry and has four pointed arches crossing the river. It is about 4m wide and spans about 55m across the Medway. There are four substantial pointed cutwaters on each side which rise up to the level of the parapet forming pedestrian refuges. The parapets have been rebuilt and are of red brick.

A bridge is recorded at Twyford in 1325 and in wills of 1475 and 1488.(19)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Rec 6" (L R A Grove Curator Maidstone Mus 25 05 50) (OS Card Reference). SKE49041.

<3> A Saunter thro' Kent with pen and pencil 22 1928 87 88 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32846.

<4> The Bridges of Britain 1954 79 (E de Mare) (OS Card Reference). SKE50154.

<5> The Ancient Bridges of the South of England 1930 33-34 illus (E Jervoise) (OS Card Reference). SKE49928.

<6> F1 ASP 07-JAN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41980.

<7> F2 EG 14-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43304.

<8> F3 CFW 16-JAN-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43384.

<9> MHLG Maidstone RD 2225/11/A October 1960 81 (OS Card Reference). SKE47136.

<10> DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 115 (OS Card Reference). SKE40692.

<11> The National Trust Book of Bridges 1984 16 (J M Richards) (OS Card Reference). SKE50439.

<12> Bldgs of Eng-West Kent and the Weald 1980 622 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38176.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 64 NE 4 - January, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3227.

<14> Field report for monument TQ 64 NE 4 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3228.

<15> Field report for monument TQ 64 NE 4 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3229.

<16> DOE (HHR) Maidstone (Nettlestead etc) Oct-1987 (not included) (OS Card Reference). SKE40593.

<17> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2010, Twyford Bridge, Hampstead Lane, Yalding, Kent: An Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SKE16971.

<18> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<19> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

Sources and further reading