Information for record number MWA82:
Furnace End Bridge, Over Whitacre.

Summary Furnace End Bridge, a road bridge which was originally a packhorse bridge and which dates to the Medieval period. It is situated at Furnace End.
What Is It?  
Type: Bridge, Packhorse Bridge
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Over Whitacre
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 24 91
(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
Description

 
Source Number  

3 A packhorse bridge of 14th century or 15th century date, 1.3m wide, having a round arch with 4 chamfered ribs. It was widened to the S in the 17th century and again in 1925.
6 The first few feet of the N end of the arch contain the 4 chamfered ribs which represent the remains of the Medieval bridge. 1976, no changes.
8 bridge has been widened and the parapet renewed. The arch is segmental and has 4 ribs with splayed angles. This is unusual for the district and suggests an early date. The original bridge is only visible on the N downstream side, as a single red sandstone arch. It spans 7m and is about 10.5m wide, including extensions. Originally the bridge was about 1.2m wide.
9 Photograph.
10 Early undated Ancient Monuments record.
11 Early undated map showing the scheduled area.
 
Sources

Source No: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 4, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1947
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 4
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1951
Page Number: 5
Volume/Sheet: Tamworth Rural
   
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: 11
Source Type: Map
Title: Furnace End Bridge, Shustoke
Author/originator: Ministry of Works/ DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Five bridges
Author/originator: Sapcote E S
Date: 1951
Page Number: Plate 5f
Volume/Sheet: 69
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 42
Author/originator: Cossins J A
Date: 1916
Page Number: Plate V
Volume/Sheet: 42
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card: photograph
Author/originator:
Date: 2005
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NW3
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1976
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NW3
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 69
Author/originator: Sapcote E S
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 69
   
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: 8
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM list 1985
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Furnace End Bridge, Shustoke
Author/originator: Ministry of Works/DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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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 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
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
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 PACKHORSE BRIDGE * A high-humped, narrow, cobbled bridge used by trains of packhorses, often located in upland areas where the bulk of goods were carried by horses. 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 FURNACE * A chamber in which minerals, metals, etc, are subjected to the continuous action of intense heat. Use specific type where known. 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 ROUND * A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record