Trinity Bridge, Crowland

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Trinity Bridge
Lincolnshire

Trinity Bridge
Location
Crossing: Dry former river channels
Location
Grid reference: TF23941023
Location: 52°40’33"N, 0°10’6"W
Structure
Design: Three-way arch bridge
Material: stone
History
Built Between 1360 and 1390
Information

Trinity Bridge is a unique three-way stone arch bridge that stands at the heart of Crowland in Lincolnshire.[1] When built, it spanned the confluence of the River Welland with the Cat's Water, but the rivers were re-routed during the draining of the fens, and it is over dry land.

History

The current bridge dates to the 14th century (built between 1360 and 1390) and replaced previous wooden bridges. The earliest known mention of the bridge is by King Æthelbald of Mercia in 716. In 943 it was mentioned in a charter of Eadred.[2] The bridge is now a scheduled monument and Grade I listed.

Carved figure on the bridge

The bridge is predominantly built from Barnack stone, which was quarried about ten miles to the west of Crowland, and presumably transported by boat on the Welland.

This bridge has three stairways that converge at the top. Originally it spanned the River Welland and a tributary that flowed through the town, although the rivers were re-routed in the mid-seventeenth century[3] and no longer flow anywhere near the bridge. The bridge was an unusual and economical solution to the crossing of two watercourses at their confluence, reducing the need for three separate bridges to a single structure with three abutments.

In 1952 a watercolour of Trinity Bridge was used on a menu for the P&O liner RMS Strathmore. The artist was F. W. Baldwin. A copy can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum under reference number E.346-2005.[4]

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Trinity Bridge, Crowland)

References