Summary

Road bridge, built in around 1520 on the site of an earlier bridge, commissioned by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter, with later repairs.

Description

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.

History

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.

Reasons for Listing

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

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17533508

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)