Alresford Bridge

Heritage listing

Details The monument includes Alresford Bridge, a late 12th century stone single arched bridge, spanning the overflow channel from Old Alresford Pond. It is also known as the Soke Bridge and is Listed Grade II*. The bridge and pond were created by Godfrey de Lucy, Bishop of Winchester (1189-1204), as part of a scheme to make the River Itchen navigable from its source at Bramdean to Winchester and Southampton. Alresford Pond, which originally covered 200 acres (approximately 81ha), acted as a reservoir, in which the water of several local streams was collected to be channelled through the River Alre to the River Itchen. Alresford Bridge was constructed c.1190 and comprises a single gothic arch of cut stone voussoirs, which remains visible on the downstream (north west) side. Underneath the arch at water level are rectangular recesses, which may have supported a timber framework during the construction of the bridge. The arch is flanked by two stepped stone buttresses, of which the easternmost is encased within the wall supporting the neighbouring patio. The medieval bridge, which measures approximately 3m wide, was modified and extended in at least two stages. The bridge was widened on the upstream (south east) side with a 3m wide brick arch at an unknown date before 1870, as mapped evidence suggests. During the 17th century a brick parapet was added on the downstream side, topped by copings, which are possibly the original reused 12th century stones. The upstream face of the bridge was modified in 1881, when a red brick arch and parapet were added. A number of features are excluded from the scheduling. These are: the post-medieval extensions, such as the brick parapets and arch, which are protected through their listed status, the adjacent pavement and patio surfaces on

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.