Information for record number MWA1011:
Clopton Bridge, Stratford-upon-Avon

Summary Clopton Bridge, which dates back to the Medieval period. It was built in the 15th century to replace the earlier timber Bridge. This Bridge was made of stone with 14 segmental pointed arches. It was widened in 1814. It crosses the Avon at Stratford on Avon.
What Is It?  
Type: Road Bridge
Period: Modern (1400 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Stratford upon Avon
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 20 54
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: I)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Leland records a 'poore bridge of tymber' which was replaced by Sir Hugh of Clopton (d 1497) by this great and sumptuous bridge. It has fourteen great arches of stone and a long causeway at its West end. In 1645 Parliamentary troops broke down the second arch from the East end. In 1814 the bridge was widened and a stone pillar which stood on the third pier from the East end, which bore an inscription, unfortunately destroyed. The octagonal building attached to the West side of the bridge is supposed to have been a toll house.
2 First mention is in 1235. Other references occur in 13th and 14th centuries. The 15th century stone bridge consists of fourteen segmental-pointed arches; on the Northeast side the cutwaters have been retained to support the arches of the widening made in 1914, but on the Southwest side only traces remain. There were originally five more arches to the North which carried the causeway leading to the town. Various repairs and alterations are recorded.
9 Monitoring of two trial trenches on Clopton bridge revealed no trace of the bridge itself.
12 Coursed squared stone and ashlar with cast-iron. 14 segmental pointed arches with platt band and plain parapets over; widened to north side, which has cutwaters. Cast-iron footway to north side is cantilevered on lattice work brackets with enriched spandrels; scrolled supports to posts, which support panels of rails with semicircular links to head and foot.
13 Opened circa 1485, a medieval stone bridge of 14 arches carrying the A34 road over the River Avon. Built for Sir Hugh Clopton. Widened in 1814 and a cast iron footway added in 1827. The original arches are part segmental with a slight point. The later arches are fully segmental. Spans of the older arches vary from 18 foot-6 inches. To 19 foot. And of the newer arches from 25 foot 5 inches to 29 foott 2 inches. The increased span of the newer arches is accommodated by the reduced width of the piers. The bridge was widened on the upstream side in 1814 by building new arches 5 foot-3 inches. Wide on new piers to give an overall width of the bridge of 23 foot-3 inches.
 
Sources

Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1947
Page Number: 2
Volume/Sheet: Warwick
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Buildings of England: Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pevsner N and Wedgwood A
Date: 1966
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Warwicks
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Building Survey
Title: Panel for Historical Engineering Works
Author/originator: Institution of Civil Engineers
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Clopton Bridge
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1960
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Clopton Bridge
Author/originator: Department For Culture Media and Sport
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: Historic Road Bridges in Warwickshire
Author/originator: N.Palmer and G. Booth
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Recording at Clopton Bridge, Starford upon Avon
Author/originator: Jones C & Coutts C
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 9911
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 25NE6
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 42
Author/originator: Cossins J A
Date: 1916
Page Number: 9
Volume/Sheet: 42
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM list
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Clopton Bridge, Stratford-on-Avon
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: TBAS vol 69
Author/originator: Sapcote E S
Date: 1951
Page Number: 35
Volume/Sheet: 69
   
Images:  
Clopton Bridge, Stratford upon Avon
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1920s
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
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designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SAM List Scheduled Ancient Monument List. A list or schedule of archaelogical and historic monuments that are considered to be of national importance. The list contains a detailed description of each Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) and a map showing their location and extent. By being placed on the schedule, SAMs are protected by law from any unauthorised distrubance. The list has been compiled and is maintained by English Heritage. It is updated periodically. back
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Trial Trench A small regular hole that is usually square or rectangular in shape. Archaeologists dig trial trenches to discover if there are any archaeological remains at a particular location. See also excavation. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument TOLL HOUSE * A house by a toll gate or toll bridge where tolls are collected. back
monument PIER * A structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into the sea and used as a promenade and landing stage. back
monument BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument CAUSEWAY * A road or pathway raised above surrounding low, wet or uneven ground. back
monument ROAD BRIDGE * A bridge carrying a road over land or water. back
monument ENGINEERING WORKS * Any factory or site using machine tools in a manufacturing or processing capacity. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOWN * An assemblage of public and private buildings, larger than a village and having more complete and independent local government. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record