Lesbury Bridge

Heritage listing

Details The monument includes the above and below ground remains of Lesbury Bridge, a multi-span bridge of 15th or early 16th century date, spanning the River Aln at the west end of Lesbury village on the old road from Lesbury to Warkworth. The bridge was doubled in width in 1844, with the new eastern section faithfully copying the details of the medieval structure. The bridge is Listed Grade I. The bridge, built of squared sandstone, has two segmental arches supported on a central stone pier. The northern arch has a span of 10m across the River Aln, while the southern pointed arch has a span of 10.6m over a flood course. To counteract the abrasive action around the bridge foundations the river bed beneath the northern arch is paved with roughly squared stone blocks. The addition of upstream and downstream cutwaters, or triangular projections, to the central pier also aids the flow of water. The cutwaters are carried up to parapet level and form niches into which pedestrians could retreat. The parapets are thought to be of 19th century date and have been rebuilt after accidental damage; they are now protected by a series of curved blocks, or glinters. The medieval fabric of the bridge preserves a wide range of mason's marks which are especially notable on the inner face of the north abutment. The total length of the bridge inclusive of its abutments is 42m, and it is about 6.6m wide between parapet walls. Little documentary evidence has been traced for the early history of the bridge, but it is believed to have always been associated with the adjacent mill site which has been occupied since at least the late 18th century and was demolished in 1964. All fence posts and the modern road surface are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.