Description

LOWER HEYFORD B4030
SP42SE
5/42 Heyford Bridge: that part in
26/11/51 the parish of Lower Heyford
(Formerly listed as Heyford
Bridge over River Cherwell
(that part in Ploughley R.D.))
GV II*

River bridge. Probably C14, altered C17 and widened C19. Coursed squared
limestone with some ashlar dressings and some brick repair. Western end of
bridge, spanning the main branch of the River Cherwell, has 4 pointed medieval
arches, 2 of which retain chamfered ashlar ribs and have added brick linings,
but the westernmost arch has no ribs and has C19 outer voussoirs, and the next
arch was reduced to half its original span in the C17; between the arches are
shallow buttresses, and on either side of the river are square piers rising from
triangular buttresses. The bridge extends for approximately 190 metres across
the valley, the remainder forming a causeway which has 6 further arches, 2
medieval with chamfered ribs. C19 north face of bridge has corresponding arches
with squared voussoirs, those of the main span springing from low triangular
cutwaters. Both plain parapets have flat stone copings. The bridge was first
recorded in 1255. It forms an important feature in the landscape designed c.1740
by William Kent for Rousham Park.
(Rousham Park is included in the H.B.M.C. Register of Parks and Gardens at Grade
I; VCH: Oxfordshire: Vol VI, p182; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: p693;
Oxfordshire Museums Information Sheet 17, "Medieval Bridges in Oxfordshire")

Listing NGR: SP4785924764

External Links

• Historic England Listing

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings