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Latitude: 52.5204 / 52°31'13"N
Longitude: -1.7449 / 1°44'41"W
OS Eastings: 417407
OS Northings: 291421
OS Grid: SP174914
Mapcode National: GBR 4GP.XB3
Mapcode Global: VH9YS.PXX7
Plus Code: 9C4WG7C4+52
Entry Name: Water Orton Bridge
Listing Date: 18 October 1949
Last Amended: 12 March 2019
Grade: II*
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1075812
English Heritage Legacy ID: 216631
ID on this website: 101075812
Location: Water Orton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B46
County: Warwickshire
District: North Warwickshire
Civil Parish: Sutton Coldfield
Built-Up Area: Water Orton
Traditional County: Warwickshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Warwickshire
Church of England Parish: Castle Vale
Church of England Diocese: Birmingham
Tagged with: Road bridge
Road bridge, built in around 1520 on the site of an earlier bridge, commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter, with later repairs.
Road bridge, built in around 1520 on the site of an earlier bridge, commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter, with later repairs.
MATERIAL: constructed of ashlar sandstone.
DESCRIPTION: the bridge spans the River Tame and consists of six semi-circular arches, each 5m wide and finished with stone voussoirs. Between the arches are 2m-wide piers with V-shaped cutwaters on either side which span the full height of the bridge, up to parapet level. The coped parapets are plain. There are stone drainage spouts above the two central arches.
An earlier bridge is documented in this location from at least 1459 when Bishop Reynold Bowlers issued an indulgence to those who would contribute to its repair. This structure was replaced by the existing bridge in around 1520. It was commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter (1452-1555) and it is mentioned on his tomb in Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield (Grade I). It has been suggested that some bridge masonry was reused from a large demolished house in Sutton Coldfield. The bridge’s parapets were largely rebuilt in the C19, and have been subject to further repairs in the C20 and C21. Other repairs and consolidation have been made to the bridge at various times, including to the points of the cutwaters. At an unknown date, two carved stones, one of which was a corbel supported by an angel, were removed from the bridge and understood to be placed in the Church of St Nicholas and St Peter ad Vincula, Curdworth, North Warwickshire.
Water Orton Bridge, built in 1520, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* as an early-C16 bridge which, despite later modifications, retains a significant proportion of early fabric;
* as a well-constructed multi-arch bridge which displays a good use of ashlar sandstone.
Historic interest:
* for its association with John Vesey, Bishop of Exeter who commissioned the bridge and whose involvement in its construction is commemorated on his tomb in the nearby Church of Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield (Grade I).
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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