Dean Bridge

A wonderfully preserved 16thc or 17thc bridge.

This bridge, visible from the current road bridge, lies precisely on the Roman Road crossing of the Dean Water, adjacent to the Roman fort of Cardean.

Nine feet wide, the bridge comprises of two semicircular arches, wide, well dressed voussoirs and un-coursed red sandstone random rubble spandrels with multiple repairs.

Refuges overlying the cutwaters suggest a date of 16thc and it has cobbled decking. The parapets are well preserved (or repaired) with whinstone coping. Upstream it has very ancient corbelling below the parapets. The bridge had a major restructuring in 1878 in which the north arch was carefully rebuilt.

According to local legend, a noble lady was travelling through the area one late, stormy night. Her carriage came to the ford over the Dean River and over the coachman’s objections, she ordered him to try to make the passage. The river was too much and the driver was drowned. Local justice was served by requiring the said noble lady to have a bridge built.

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