Swarkestone Bridge
1795 section of Swarkestone Bridge
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 Location within Derbyshire
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| Alternate name | Swarkestone Bridge and Causeway |
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| Location | Swarkestone |
| Region | Derbyshire |
| Coordinates | 52°50′52″N 1°27′8″W / 52.84778°N 1.45222°WCoordinates: 52°50′52″N 1°27′8″W / 52.84778°N 1.45222°W |
| Type | Bridge and causeway |
| Part of | A514 Main Road |
| Length | Almost 1 mile |
| History | |
| Material | Local sandstones |
| Founded | First mentioned 1204 |
| Periods | Medieval |
Swarkestone Bridge is an ancient bridge crossing the River Trent between the villages of Swarkestone and Stanton by Bridge, about 6 miles south of Derby. It is currently Grade I Listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The bridge was built in the 13th century to cross the river and the surrounding marshes. The first mention of the bridge was in 1204 (known as “Ponte de Cordy”), but in part has been modified, repaired and rebuilt; the majority of the existing bridge dates from the late 13th and early 14th century.
The bridge and causeway was part of the King's highway between Derby and Coventry. This had been the main route between the two cities since before the Norman Conquest, and there had been a river crossing on the site.
Swarkestone bridge is, in total, just under a mile long and has 17 arches (six of which have been unaltered since medieval times); it is built primarily of local sandstone. It is the longest stone bridge in England, and the longest inland bridge in England.
The original bridge is thought to have been made of wood, and was then rebuilt in stone at the end of the 13th century. Three Royal grants of tolls for bridge repair were granted between 1324 and 1347.
The section of the bridge crossing the main flow of the river was destroyed in floods in 1795 and was replaced between 1795 and 1797, at a cost of £3,550, with the present section of bridge. The work was reputedly designed by Thomas Sykes, the County Surveyor. However, according to Nikolaus Pevsner, it was designed by Thomas Harrison.
The bridge has proved itself of strategic importance throughout the ages. It was for about 300 years the Midlands' main crossing of the Trent, and the only crossing between Burton-on-Trent and Nottingham. The road over the bridge was the main road into Derby from the South until the 18th century. In January 1643, it was the location of the minor battle during the English Civil War. In the Battle of Swarkestone Bridge the bridge was defended by the Royalists against the Parliamentarians, but the outnumbered Royalists lost the day.
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Wikipedia