stine-letter-carving

Barton Farm Bridge

Bath Roman Baths

Blacknells Tomb

Devizes Market Cross

Glastonbury Well

Granville Sharpe Tomb

Malmesbury Cross

Prior Park Lake

Roman Mosaic

Vallis Kilns

 

Barton Farm Bridge

barton farm bridge

During the summer and autumn of 2003 Minerva Stone Conservation started repairs to a medieval packhorse bridge near to the stunning tithe barn at Bradford on Avon.

This bridge had been repaired in a piecemeal fashion on other occassions but had since fallen into a picturesque but potentially ruinous state. Consequently the decision was made to carry out extensive repairs to the bridge including structural stonemasonry repair to the barrel vaulted arches. This work can only be carried out in the more clement weather since the river Avon which the bridge spans floods almost annually to dramatic proprtions which can occassionally submerge the bridge entirely!

The bridge is a scheduled ancient monument and dates from the 14th century (cutwaters were added in the 15th century), it is of particular importance because it never became part of a metalled road and has never been extensively altered and so is still in its original 'as built' condition. Historically the bridge was part of a complex of buildings belonging to the Abbess of Shaftesbury and formed part of a direct route between the rich cereal growing Cotswold scarp and the stone tithe barn where the harvest was collected. Taking this direct route avoided a toll on the main town bridge.

For further details and pictures of this very special project please click here.