Dove Bridge

The site is the location of an ancient crossing of the River Dove, forming the boundary between Staffordshire and Derbyshire. In the 4th year of the reign of Edward I (c. 1276) a jury presented findings to justices in Eyre that the merchants of Melbourne, Derbyshire, had for three years unjustly withheld the payment of tolls at the bridge, which affected the money available for repairs. Edwyn Jervoise, an early 20th-century architectural historian, thought that the outer arches might date from the 14th century, though Historic England currently believe them to be 15th century. A hermitage was located at the bridge in the 17th century. Also during the 17th century freemason and alchemist…

The current bridge consists of six arches. The outer four arches are pointed and medieval in origin, the central two arches are rounded and later in style. The bridge spans 63 yd and measures approximately 24 ft between parapets.