Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The only stone bridge in the district. Three semi-circular arches. Built according to an inscription on the parapet, by the counties of Kent and Sussex in 1706. Damaged section of the parapet stonework have been repaired.

Summary from record TQ 82 NW 87:

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1706 to 1706

Monument Types

• BRIDGE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1706 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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From the Register of Scheduled Monuments: The only stone bridge in the district. Three semi-circular arches. Built according to an inscription on the parapet, by the counties of Kent and Sussex in 1706. Damaged sectiond of the parapet stonework have been repaired.(1)

Description from record TQ 82 NW 87:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
NEWENDEN 1. 5272 Newenden Bridge or "Rother" Bridge TQ 82 NW 11/248 16.8.62. II
2. This is partly in Newenden Parish and partly in Northiam Parish, East Sussex. Sandstone. Built in 1706 but in the mediaeval tradition. Three round-headed arches with pointed cutwaters between them on the upstream side (their lower portions renewed in white brick) and shouldered buttresses on the downstream side. Parapet renewed with slender buttresses. Circular iron ties. A.177
Listing NGR: TQ8399327794 (1)

From the National Heritage List for England:

List entry Description
Summary of Monument
Newenden Bridge, 40m WNW of Riverside Cottage.

Reasons for Designation
Multi-span bridges are structures of two or more arches supported on piers. They were constructed for the use of pedestrians and packhorse or vehicular traffic, crossing rivers or streams, often replacing or supplementing earlier fords. Stone or brick bridges constructed from the medieval period onwards were built with pointed, semicircular or segmental arches.

The bridge abutments and revetting of the river banks also form part of the bridge. The theory and practice of masonry construction for bridges reached a high point in the 18th century. After this time increasing demand led to quicker builds with the adoption of iron bridges and later metal truss and suspension bridges.

Despite some limited repair work and alteration, Newenden Bridge is a well preserved example of an early 18th century multi-span stone bridge built in the medieval tradition.

History
See Details.

Details
This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 18 December 2014. The 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 an early 18th century multi-span stone bridge situated over the River Rother, south of Newenden. It also known as Rother Bridge and is on the county boundary of East Sussex and Kent.

The bridge is constructed of sandstone with three round-headed arches in the medieval tradition. It has pointed cutwaters between the arches on the upstream side; their lower portions renewed in white brick, and shouldered buttresses on the downstream side. It was built, according to an inscription on the parapet, by the counties of Kent and Sussex in 1706.

The parapet stonework was repaired in the late 20th century. (1)

<1> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<2> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

Sources and further reading