Latitude: 51.7427 / 51°44'33"N
Longitude: -2.2902 / 2°17'24"W
OS Eastings: 380059
OS Northings: 204924
OS Grid: SO800049
Mapcode National: GBR 0L4.PSS
Mapcode Global: VH94X.8G3F
Plus Code: 9C3VPPV5+3W
Entry Name: Nutshell Bridge
Listing Date: 24 February 1987
Last Amended: 22 July 2011
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1090681
English Heritage Legacy ID: 132011
ID on this website: 101090681
Location: Bridgend, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL10
County: Gloucestershire
District: Stroud
Civil Parish: Stonehouse
Built-Up Area: Stonehouse
Traditional County: Gloucestershire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Gloucestershire
Church of England Parish: Stonehouse St Cyr
Church of England Diocese: Gloucester
Tagged with: Bridge
An accommodation bridge over the Stroudwater Canal, built circa 1778 for the Stroudwater Canal Company.
MATERIALS: red brick, with ashlar keystones and springers.
DESCRIPTION: roughly rectangular on plan, its wing walls are gently curved outwards, and are battered, that to the south ending in pilasters; it is truncated at the south end where it meets Nutshell House and Nutshell Cottage. The arched opening is segmental; the arch has ashlar springers, and there is a plain curved string to the extrados. The parapet is plain, topped with mortar capping.
The Stroudwater Navigation, built in 1775-9, was designed to link the River Severn at Framilode to Stroud, allowing coal to be brought from Shropshire, Staffordshire and the Forest of Dean to the textile mills of the Stroud valleys. The Thames and Severn Canal, constructed in 1783-9, was designed to run eastwards from Stroud, eventually linking the River Severn to the River Thames at Inglesham, near Lechlade. The Cotswold Canals, as they are also known, were generally successful, though the Thames and Severn in particular suffered serious technical failings which compromised its profitability; despite this, both canals continued in use well into the C20.
Nutshell Bridge was built circa 1778 on the Stroudwater Navigation, as an accommodation bridge. Its south end emerges alongside a house and cottage associated with the canal.
Nutshell Bridge, dating from circa 1778, is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest: as part of the C18 Stroudwater Navigation
Intactness: the bridge is largely unaltered
Group value: with the adjacent Nutshell House and Nutshell Cottage, both listed at Grade II
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