MSO9331 - Barle Bridge, Dulverton (Building)

Summary

Barle Bridge is a stone bridge of medieval origin with five segmental pointed arches. It has been widened on the upstream side, possibly in 1819, and much restored.

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Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

Barle Bridge is located at SS 9120 2782 (NAT). [1] Barle Bridge has five pointed arches with double arch-rings, and has been widened by about 5 feet on the upstream side, possibly in 1819. A carved stone on the outside of this parapet records that the bridge was repaired in 1624 and 1819. [2] Barle Bridge is a stone bridge of mediaeval origin, much restored. Some restoration is recent, following 1952 flood damage. There are five segmental pointed arches, cutwater buttresses with weather capping between the arches each side. Some of the weather capping has been restored. The bridge has stone parapets with copings. [3] Additional Bibliography. [4] SS 912278. Barle Bridge. Scheduled, Somerser 267. [5] The road bridge over the River Barle is medieval in origin. It was repaired in 1624, subsequently widened in 1819 by John Stone, and repaired in 1866 and 1952-3 after flood damage. The bridge is constructed with local stone, random rubble, rubble voussoirs, ashlar string course, flat coping to parapet and 3 tier stepped coping to the buttresses. The bridge has a five arch span with pointed cutwater buttresses between 4-centred arch openings. There is said to be a tablet on the exterior of the parapet inscribed "This bridge repaired in the year of Our Lord God 1624" and "John Stone 1819". The bridge is a Scheduled Monument (Somerset County No 267). [6, 7] Barle Bridge is an impressive stone bridge with arches not markedly pointed. There are four cutwaters on both sides. The pointing on the tow end is somewhat old. The stone coping is comparatively new. The steeped cutwaters on the north side have been repaired recently. [9] The bridge is included in the Dulverton Conservation Area, which was created in December 1994. [13] The Old Causeway and Ford used to cross the river before the bridge was widened in the early 1800s. [14] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the site a survival score of 7. [16] The building was visited in February 2012 as part of the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. It received a BAR score of 4A. [17] Will of John Sydenham 1558 of Combe Dulverton said to give six shillings and eight pence to the maintenance of the bridge at Dulverton. [18] The site was surveyed in July 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment. It was given a survival score of 7. [19] Access from scaffolding during repairs to the bridge in July 2013 enabled photographs of the two date stones to be taken. One reads "Dulverton Bridge (was re?) paired un ye yeAre oF ovr (Lo?)rd GOD 1684" the remaining section of inscription could not be deciphered although a number of individual letters are visible. It may mention a donor as "OF SOM" can be made out. The other insciption reads "Bge Widned 1819 by John Stone" (bridge widened 1819). [20] A photograph of the bridge was taken from the south in the early 20th Century. [21] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [22]

Sources/Archives (22)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1976. 1:10000 Map, 1976. 1:10000.
  • <2> Monograph: Jervoise, E.. 1930. The Ancient Bridges of the South of England. Architectural Press. P.113, Illustration.
  • <3> Index: Department of the Environment. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest . Dulverton Rural District, Somerset (September 1955) 6.
  • <4> Monograph: Thompson, W.H.. 1934. Somerset Regional Survey. P.57.
  • <5> Unpublished document: Various. Scheduled Monument Notification . Dept of the Environment. Ancient Monuments of England 2 1978 124.
  • <6> Index: Department of the Environment. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest . 36th List. District of West Somerse (4 August 1986).
  • <7> Monograph: Bently, J.B. + Murless, B.J.. 1985. Somerset Roads.
  • <8> Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Record Card. 1985, SS92NW14.
  • <9> Report: Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission. Field Monument Warden Report.
  • <10> Monograph: Aston, M. and Leech, R.. 1977. Historic Towns in Somerset. Committee for Rescue Archaeology in Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Survey Number 2. P.43.
  • <11> Monograph: Binding, H. + Bonham-Carter, V.. 1986. Old Dulverton and Around: Dulverton - Bury - Brushford - Exebridge. The Exmoor Press. Front cover photograph. P.32.
  • <12> Article in monograph: Gathercole, C.. 2003. English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey: An Archaeological Assessment of Dulverton. The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey. English Heritage. P.5, 7, 16.
  • <13> Unpublished document: Fisher, J.. c.2003. Dulverton Conservation Area Appraisal. p7-9, 13, Photograph.
  • <14> Monograph: Dulverton and District Civic Society. 2002. The Book of Dulverton, Brushford, Bury and Exebridge. Halsgrove. P.12, 14, 15, 19, 33, Photographs.
  • <15> Monograph: Siraut, M.. 2009. Exmoor: The Making of an English Upland. Phillimore & Co. Ltd. 1st Edition. P.67, 161, Photograph.
  • <16> Report: Bray, L.S.. 2010. Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment 2009, Exmoor National Park.
  • <17> Report: Lawrence, G.. 2014. Exmoor National Park: Rapid condition survey of listed buildings 2012-13.
  • <18> Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. Email communication from Roy Horlick, 2015.
  • <19> Report: Gent, T. and Manning, P.. 2015. Exmoor National Park Scheduled Monument Condition Survey 2015. Archaedia.
  • <20> Serial: Exmoor National Park. 2001 +. Historic Environment Review. May 2014, P5.
  • <21> Photograph: Catford, H.. 1900-1925. General view looking down Pound Walk to Barle Bridge, taken from the south. Unknown. Unknown. Postcard.
  • <22> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 36559, Extant 11 April 2022.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • 2012-3 Building At Risk Score (4A): 1648/15/65
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO10836
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11226
  • Local List Status (Rejected)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 92 NW14
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 36559
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 31396
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 33563

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 9120 2781 (30m by 12m) MasterMap
Map sheet SS92NW
Civil Parish DULVERTON, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

Related Articles (1)

Record last edited

Apr 11 2022 1:12PM

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