Newbridge, Oxfordshire
Encyclopedia
Newbridge is a 13th century bridge carrying the A415 road over the River Thames
in Oxfordshire
, between Abingdon
and Witney
, close to the Thames' confluence with the River Windrush
. It is one of the two oldest surviving bridges across the Thames.
There is a public house
at either end of the bridge: The Rose Revived on the north bank, and The Maybush on the south bank.
The bridge consists two spans, where the northern span crosses the river and the southern span, south of the Maybush, is dry underneath except when the river floods.
, which is slightly older. They were built by monks on the orders of King John
in order to improve communications between the wool
towns in the south of England, and the Cotswold
farms, and named "New Bridge" as it was the youngest out of the three bridges built at the time (the third being the Lechlade
bridge, replaced in the nineteenth century). It was also very much longer than it is now, with 51 arches and being 726 yards (664 m) long, compared with the current 12 arches.
Whether Newbridge or Radcot Bridge is the oldest surviving crossing of the Thames is debatable. While Radcot Bridge is the older structure, it was extensively damaged during the Wars of the Roses
and had to be greatly rebuilt. Further, following reroutings of the Thames in 1787, the Radcot bridge no longer crosses the main channel of the river.
In 1644, during the English Civil War
, the Battle of Newbridge was fought on the banks of the river. Roundhead
William Waller
attempted to cross in order to surround Oxford and capture King Charles
, but was defeated.
In 2007 the area was flooded extensively
.
who would prefer to see the existing bridge remain open for light traffic only.
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,...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, between 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...
and Witney
Witney
Witney is a town on the River Windrush, west of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.The place-name 'Witney' is first attested in a Saxon charter of 969 as 'Wyttannige'; it appears as 'Witenie' in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means 'Witta's island'....
, close to the Thames' confluence with the River Windrush
River Windrush
The River Windrush is a river in the English Cotswolds, forming part of the River Thames catchment.The Windrush starts in the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire northeast of Taddington, which is north of Guiting Power, Temple Guiting, Ford and Cutsdean...
. It is one of the two oldest surviving bridges across the Thames.
There is a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
at either end of the bridge: The Rose Revived on the north bank, and The Maybush on the south bank.
The bridge consists two spans, where the northern span crosses the river and the southern span, south of the Maybush, is dry underneath except when the river floods.
History
The bridge dates from the 13th century and is constructed with Taynton stone in the same way as Radcot BridgeRadcot Bridge
Radcot Bridge is a crossing of the River Thames in England, south of Radcot, Oxfordshire and not far north of Faringdon, Oxfordshire . It carries the A4095 road across the river on the reach above Radcot Lock...
, which is slightly older. They were built by monks on the orders of King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
in order to improve communications between the wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
towns in the south of England, and the Cotswold
Cotswold
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in central England that give their name to:*Cotswold *Cotswold *Cotswold Chase, a horse race*Cotswold Games, annual games in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire...
farms, and named "New Bridge" as it was the youngest out of the three bridges built at the time (the third being the Lechlade
Lechlade
Lechlade, or Lechlade-on-Thames, is a town at the southern edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. It is the highest point at which the River Thames is navigable. The town is named after the River Leach that joins the Thames near here....
bridge, replaced in the nineteenth century). It was also very much longer than it is now, with 51 arches and being 726 yards (664 m) long, compared with the current 12 arches.
Whether Newbridge or Radcot Bridge is the oldest surviving crossing of the Thames is debatable. While Radcot Bridge is the older structure, it was extensively damaged during the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
and had to be greatly rebuilt. Further, following reroutings of the Thames in 1787, the Radcot bridge no longer crosses the main channel of the river.
In 1644, during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, the Battle of Newbridge was fought on the banks of the river. Roundhead
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
William Waller
William Waller
Sir William Waller was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
attempted to cross in order to surround Oxford and capture King Charles
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, but was defeated.
2007 United Kingdom floods
The 2007 United Kingdom floods were a series of destructive floods that occurred in various areas across the country during the summer of 2007. The most severe floods occurred across Northern Ireland on 12 June; East Yorkshire and The Midlands on 15 June; Yorkshire, The Midlands, Gloucestershire,...
.
Current status
The bridge is controlled by traffic lights, not being designed to carry modern traffic, and an 18 tonne weight limit is imposed to protect its weakening structure. Further reductions are considered likely by local authorities. According to a 1996 survey, one of the arches is only capable of carrying its own weight, though it was decided that there was enough leeway to allow traffic to continue across the bridge. The likelihood of collapse is considered "slim". Local authorities have decided to enter into negotiations to buy land that could be used to build a new bridge 270 yard upriver, believing that this is the only long-term option available. The idea of a new bridge is opposed by local residents of StandlakeStandlake
Standlake is a village and civil parish about southeast of Witney and west of Oxford. The parish includes the hamlet of Brighthampton. The River Windrush flows past the village and with its tributary Medley Brook it forms much of the eastern boundary of the parish. The western boundary has been...
who would prefer to see the existing bridge remain open for light traffic only.