Abingdon Bridge
Encyclopedia
Abingdon Bridge consists of a pair of bridges across the River Thames
at the town of Abingdon
, Oxfordshire
, England
. It carries the A415 road from Abingdon to Dorchester
, Oxfordshire – and crosses the Thames on the reach above Culham Lock
, just below Abingdon Lock
.
The bridge is actually two bridges, separated by Nag's Head Island
. Abingdon Bridge is the northern part towards the town which has six arches and crosses the backwater and mill stream. The southern part is technically called Burford Bridge and has one main arch and four minor arches at the river and two minor arches on the floodplain. This crosses the main navigation channel. Furthermore to complete the Thames crossing, Culham Bridge
crossing the Swift Ditch
should also be considered as an extension.
It was constructed by a religious body known as The Brotherhood of Christ (later Christ's Hospital
), assisted by local wool and cloth merchants, to replace a previous timber bridge or possibly a ferry.
In 1453, "three new arches" were added at the southern end of the bridge, this becoming known as Burford Bridge. This description makes no reference to the two pairs of much small arches to each side of the central arches. There was considerable expenditure on the bridge in 1790 when Abingdon Lock
was opened, following previous objections that there was insufficient draught under the bridge for navigational purposes. The latest occasion when the bridge was reconstructed was in 1927.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at the town of Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It carries the A415 road from Abingdon to Dorchester
Dorchester, Oxfordshire
Dorchester-on-Thames is a village and civil parish on the River Thame in Oxfordshire, about northwest of Wallingford and southeast of Oxford. Despite its name, Dorchester is not on the River Thames, but just above the Thame's confluence with it...
, Oxfordshire – and crosses the Thames on the reach above Culham Lock
Culham Lock
Culham Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England close to Culham, Oxfordshire. It is on a lock cut to the north of the main stream, which approaches the large village of Sutton Courtenay...
, just below Abingdon Lock
Abingdon Lock
Abingdon Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England, less than 1 mile east and upstream of Abingdon, Oxfordshire on the opposite bank of the river...
.
The bridge is actually two bridges, separated by Nag's Head Island
Nag's Head Island
Nag's Head Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Abingdon. It sits in the middle of the two Abingdon Bridges on the reach above Culham Lock....
. Abingdon Bridge is the northern part towards the town which has six arches and crosses the backwater and mill stream. The southern part is technically called Burford Bridge and has one main arch and four minor arches at the river and two minor arches on the floodplain. This crosses the main navigation channel. Furthermore to complete the Thames crossing, Culham Bridge
Culham Bridge
Culham Bridge is a mediaeval bridge crossing a present backwater of the River Thames in England at Culham, Oxfordshire, near the town of Abingdon. The bridge crosses Swift Ditch which was at one time the main navigation channel of the River Thames until Abingdon Lock was built in 1790...
crossing the Swift Ditch
Swift Ditch
The Swift Ditch is a backwater of the River Thames in England, which was formerly the primary navigation channel. With the main river, it creates the large island of Andersey Island near Abingdon, Oxfordshire....
should also be considered as an extension.
History
Abingdon Bridge was begun as a stone bridge in 1416, and it is recorded that the completion of Abingdon Bridge severely damaged trade at Wallingford.It was constructed by a religious body known as The Brotherhood of Christ (later Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital of Abingdon
Christ's Hospital of Abingdon is a charity with a long history, based in Abingdon, England.Christ's Hospital was established in 1553 by royal charter under the full name of the Master and Governors of the Hospital of Christ of Abingdon. Sir John Mason, an Elizabethan diplomat, served as the first...
), assisted by local wool and cloth merchants, to replace a previous timber bridge or possibly a ferry.
In 1453, "three new arches" were added at the southern end of the bridge, this becoming known as Burford Bridge. This description makes no reference to the two pairs of much small arches to each side of the central arches. There was considerable expenditure on the bridge in 1790 when Abingdon Lock
Abingdon Lock
Abingdon Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England, less than 1 mile east and upstream of Abingdon, Oxfordshire on the opposite bank of the river...
was opened, following previous objections that there was insufficient draught under the bridge for navigational purposes. The latest occasion when the bridge was reconstructed was in 1927.