Summary

Multi-spanned footbridge beside a ford, considered to have been built in the C18 or earlier as a packhorse bridge without parapets.

Description

Packhorse bridge, C18 or earlier.

MATERIALS: rough limestone rubble, handmade brick forming the arches, later repairs and deck surfacing in modern materials.

DESCRIPTION: The bridge, including its approach causeways, is just over 30m long and around 2m wide. It has three arches formed by single arch rings constructed with handmade bricks rising from rubble stone abutments. The central arch is segmental, the flanking ones are depressed but possibly built as three-centred basket arches. Each arch is of approximately equal span of just over 2m. At the time of the site inspection (2025) the stream was only flowing through the westernmost arch. To the east of the arches there is a culvert through the causeway forming a flood channel that is formed with undressed stone slab lintels.

History

Marygate is believed to be the original east-west route within the village of Barton, crossing Barton Beck, also known as Waterfall Beck. The form and simple vernacular construction of the bridge (originally lacking parapets or handrails) indicates that it was built as a packhorse bridge in the C18, possibly earlier. The bridge is certainly shown on C19 maps, including the 1838 tithe map, and appears in a number of early photographs from the late C19 onwards. These photographs show the added handrails being of the same design as those in place at the time of inspection (2025): simple timber rails spanning between posts set into the ground, the posts abutting the bridge’s side elevations. The bridge probably escaped being widened for vehicle use because of the construction of a new bridge in 1821, which is thought to have resulted in Silver Street becoming the main east-west route through the village. The Marygate bridge was retained as a footbridge beside the ford and has subsequently undergone various repairs in modern materials, including the replacement of the original deck surfacing.

Reasons for Listing

Marygate packhorse bridge over Barton Beck is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural Interest:
* a little altered example of vernacular bridge construction dating to the C18 or potentially earlier, the lack of parapets indicating its original use for packhorses, and the multi-span design being relatively unusual with packhorse bridges being more typically single-spanned;

Historic Interest:
* a physical reminder of the historical use of packhorses for transporting materials before the more general improvement of roads to better accommodate wheeled transport.

Recommended Books

• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover