Radcot Bridge
| Radcot Bridge | |
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Radcot Bridge
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| Coordinates | 51°41′35″N 1°35′19″W / 51.693081°N 1.588644°WCoordinates: 51°41′35″N 1°35′19″W / 51.693081°N 1.588644°W |
| Carries | A4095 road |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | Radcot, Oxfordshire |
| Maintained by | Oxfordshire County Council |
| Heritage status | Grade I listed |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | arch |
| Material | stone |
| Height | 11 feet 4 inches (3.45 m) |
| Load limit | 18 tonnes (18 long tons; 20 short tons) |
| History | |
| Opened | circa 1200 |
Radcot Bridge is a crossing of the River Thames in England, south of Radcot, Oxfordshire and not far north of Faringdon, Oxfordshire (formerly Berkshire). It carries the A4095 road across the river on the reach above Radcot Lock. Adjoining the bridge is the Swan Inn and slight earthworks of Matilda's Castle.
There are in fact three stone bridges at this point on the Thames, from south to north: Radcot Bridge, the Canal Bridge and Pidnell Bridge. The first is nearest to Pidnell (a hamlet in Faringdon parish) and the last is nearest to Radcot. Whilst originally built on the Thames, Radcot Bridge is now on a backwater since the construction, in 1787, of a new cut for the Thames and Severn Canal. The Canal Bridge was built at the same time.
Radcot Bridge is often claimed as the "oldest bridge on the Thames", having been built, with pointed arches of Taynton stone, around 1200. The Cistercian monks of St Mary at Cîteaux in Normandy were granted land for the purpose by King John. Much of the structure was broken down during the battle which took place here in 1387 between Henry Bolingbroke (the future Henry IV) and troops loyal to Richard II, although it was reconstructed in 1393 [six years later]. The bridge was again severely damaged during the Wars of the Roses, and was largely rebuilt as it appears today, with a flattened centre arch.
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