Information for record number MWA1453:
Site of Emscote Bridge,

Summary Emscote Bridge, the site of a Post Medieval Bridge, replaced in the 19th century by a new Bridge downstream. No remains are visible.
What Is It?  
Type: Bridge
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Leamington Spa
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 30 65
(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: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 An irregular narrow bridge of seven or eight arches, some round and others pointed. Emscote bridge was in a dangerous state in 1625 and was largely rebuilt in 1629, but by 1650 it was again in need of repairs. By 1830 it had been condemned as unsafe and the next year a new bridge was built twenty yards downstream.
2 There is no indication of the old bridge.
3 From the historical evidence, the position of the Medieval bridge was in approximately the same place as the stone foundation present in trench 6B (eastern shore). The stone foundation was constructed for a large structure and was still intact for a minimum of three courses. The stone spreads in trenches 1 & 2 (western shore) were of a similar material to the stone foundation. Their location, close to to the north side of Potobello bridge, on the western shore of the River Avon would be consistent with the location of the western side of the Medieval bridge. Although the location of the footings were not present within trench 1 or 2, the stone spreads were most likely from the demolition phase of the western side of the bridge. The inclusion of a piece of 19th century pottery under the demolition layer is conclusive of a demolition date of this time.
4 No evidence was recovered for the footings to the Medieval bridge, although a number of substantial stone rubble spreads were likely to have resulted from its demolition.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Land at Former Potterton Works, Warwick
Author/originator:
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Potterton Works, Warwick
Author/originator:
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: MDT
Date: 1979
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 1486
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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
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 Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. 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 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 TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument ROUND * A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England. back
monument DEMOLITION LAYER * A layer underneath the topsoil containing rubble or fragments of building material, e.g. mortar, tile, flint. back
monument WORKS * Usually a complex of buildings for the processing of raw materials. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record