MSO8006 - New Bridge, Allerford (Building)

A medieval stone bridge, with a central pointed arch, and a half-arch each side. It was reported to be in poor condition in 1628 and repaired in 1630. It bears a datestone of 1866, which also marks the historic boundary between Selworthy and Luccombe parishes.

[SS 8999 4665]. New Bridge (NAT). [1] The 'New Bridge between Selworthy and Luckombe' was built before 1628, at which date it was reported to be in great decay. £60 was spent on repairs in 1630, but an inquiry was ordered to be made into it in 1647. It has been rebuilt and bears the date 1866. [2] II* Allerford New Bridge (Partly in Luccombe parish). Mediaeval stone bridge, central pointed arch, half-arch each side. Stone parapets, cutwater buttresses each side, 3 stone steps from sub-arch to water level at the south west corner, similar steps at the north east corner. Ancient Monument. [3] SS 900466. Allerford New Bridge. Scheduled. [4] SELWORTHY CP Allerford New Bridge at NGR SS 8999 4666 II* Road bridge over Horner Water. Medieval in origin. C18. Local stone random rubble. Single span flanked by cutwaters with half arch spans. Pointed arch opening with dressed stone voussoirs, cement caped cutwaters rising almost to parapet, half arches abutting, partially filled on cutwater side, cement saddle back coping to parapet ramped up to centre. Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 230). [5] Medieval stone bridge of one main pointed arch with an 18 foot span. At each side of this is a half arch. There are cutwaters between the north upstream and downstream , pointed except for the east one on the south upstream side which has been remade square. The half arches are flood arches, their floors being approximately 5 feet above the water line. The bridge was widened on the north side (downstream) approximately 0.2 metres, and a stone in the north parapet reads LP\SP 1866 and may refer to this widening. Forms part of the A39 road. The downstream piers are reinforced stones held in metalmesh. [6] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the site a survival score of 3. [7] The building was visited in May 2012 as part of the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. It received a BAR score of 4A. [8] The 1841 Luccombe Tithe map indicates the presence of a bridge at this location. The Selworthy Tithe map, also of 1841, does not depict a bridge, but does indicate that a road somehow crosses a watercourse. [9,10] The site was surveyed in June 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment. It was given a survival score of 3. [11] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [12] The site was named "New Bridge" when it was repaired in 1628. It was widened from 10 feet (3 metres) to 16 feet (4.9 metres) in 1866 by the Dunster Highways Board, who retained the pointed main arch with unusual half archaes on either side (for flood relief). The bridge incorporated a parish boundary stone. [13]