Information for record number MWA1192:
Bridge 200m E of Compton Verney House

Summary An 18th century stone bridge built for the private drive to the house in the landscape park at Compton Verney. It is now used only as a footbridge. It is situated 250m east of the church at Compton Verney.
What Is It?  
Type: Bridge
Period: Post-medieval - Industrial (1540 AD - 1900 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Compton Verney
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 31 52
(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: II*)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 A stone bridge which carries the drive over Compton Pool. stone bridge of three arches with 19th century balustraded parapet. Possibly by Adam.
2 The bridge is little used today; the drive is no longer in use for vehicles and the bridge is only used as a footbridge. Although intact the bridge does not appear to be entirely structurally sound.
3 The excavation of two trial holes on Compton Verney Park bridge revealed the original rubble infill of the bridge but no early carriageway surfaces survived. There was also evidence that the parapets may have been replaced.
4 Three arched bridge for drive over Compton Pools, planned and executed by Capability Brown, possibly to Adam's design 1770-72. One of a contemporary pair.
5 Early undated scheduling record.
6 Letter about sphinxes on the bridge.
7 Further letter concerning the shinxes. A drawing dated 1953 in The Birmingham Post shows the phinxes still in situ.
 
Sources

Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1960
Page Number: 5
Volume/Sheet: Stratford-on-Avon Ru
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Compton Verney Park Bridge: Excavation of Trial Holes
Author/originator: Meek J
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Compton Verney
Author/originator: Chamberlaine-Brothers, R.
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Sphinxes from Compton Verney
Author/originator: B J Hayton
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No:
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: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Compton Verney Bridge
Author/originator: Ministry of Works/DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: SMW
Date: 1979
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 790
   
Images:  
A bridge over the lake at Compton Verney
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1957
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 SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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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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monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument SPHINX * A sculptured, carved or moulded representation of an imaginary creature with a human head and breast combined with the body of a lion. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument PARK * An enclosed piece of land, generally large in area, used for hunting, the cultivation of trees, for grazing sheep and cattle or visual enjoyment. Use more specific type where known. 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 CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument CARRIAGEWAY * The part of a road intended for vehicular traffic. back
monument INDUSTRIAL * This is the top term for the class. See INDUSTRIAL Class List for narrow terms. 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 ROAD BRIDGE * A bridge carrying a road over land or water. back
monument FOOTBRIDGE * A narrow bridge for people and animals to cross on foot. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument LANDSCAPE PARK * Grounds, usually associated with a country house, laid out so as to produce the effect of natural scenery back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record