Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
by H R Hannaford
Archaeology Service Archaeology Service Report Number 211 © Shropshire County Council July 2002
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: A DESK-BASED ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
by H R HANNAFORD MIFA
A Report for the
COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE SHROPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Archaeology Service Unit 4, Owen House, Radbrook Centre, Radbrook Road,Shrewsbury, SY3 9BJ Tel: (01743) 254018 Fax: (01743) 254047 TELFORD & WREKIN COUNCIL Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 There is currently a proposal to strengthen a number of minor road bridges in Shropshire.
1.2 A list of 19 bridges were identified for which an Archaeological Desk- Based Assessment would be needed as part of the Stage 1 Environmental Assessment of the proposed works.
1.3 The format of the Archaeological Assessment was agreed by the County Council's Principal Engineer (Bridges) and Head of Archaeology.
1.4 The Archaeology Service was commissioned by the Community and Environment Directorate, Shropshire County Council, to carry out this assessment. This report details the result of the assessment. Location plans and outline details of the proposed works were supplied to the Archaeology Service by Moore Environment.
2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2.1 Aims and Objectives of the Assessment The aim of this desk-based assessment is to provide information enabling an informed decision to be taken regarding the archaeological provision for the proposed bridge strengthening works.
The objectives set were: (a) To assess the known or potential archaeological resource within the study areas. (b) To identify the likely character, extent, quality, and significance of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local, regional, and national context as appropriate. (c) To identify and recommend options for the management of the archaeological resource, including any mitigation strategies. (d) To recommend a strategy for further Field Evaluation, where the character and value of the resource was not sufficiently defined to permit a mitigation strategy or other response to be devised.
2.2 Methodology of the Assessment 2.2.1 In order to achieve these objectives, the Desk-Based Assessment examined and assessed all appropriate sources. These included:
Archaeological Databases Cartographic Sources Aerial Photographs Secondary and Statutory Sources
2.2.2 Where appropriate, a site visit was undertaken as part of the assessment in order to assess possible factors such as existing or previous land use and its affect on the survival or condition of known or potential archaeological sites.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 1 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 1 BROCKTON BRIDGE (NGR: SO 327 858)
Brockton Bridge is a reinforced concrete slab bridge and is to be replaced with a box culvert of approximately twice the span of the existing bridge.
The bridge was built after 1926, replacing a footbridge and ford in the same location, shown on the 1884 (1st edition), 1903, and 1926 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 plans. (Sheet No. Shropshire LXII.16)
Other than this river crossing point, no known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 2 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 2 PULVERBATCH BRIDGE (NGR: SJ 423 021)
Pulverbatch Bridge is a reinforced concrete box culvert and is to be replaced with a similar structure.
The bridge was built in 1936 (according to a date impressed in the concrete above the southwestern arch. The wing walls on the northeastern side are of rubble stone construction. The existing bridge replaced a footbridge and ford in the same location, shown on the 1883 (1st edition) and 1902 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 plans. (Sheet No. Shropshire XLVIII.4)
In the medieval period the stream supplied water to a water mill (County SMR No. SA3704) thought to have been located in the field to the northeast of the bridge. The site of the former mill pond is still shown as a pond on modern maps. This site is unlikely to be directly affected by the proposed works.
A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 26th June 2002.
No other known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 3 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 3 HENLEY ROAD BRIDGE (NGR: SO 49 883)
Henley Road Bridge is a two span masonry arch culvert. It is to be replaced with a concrete box culvert.
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work
N.B. The grid reference supplied in the documentation (SO 452 883) is for a railway bridge, not the Henley Road Bridge described)
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 4 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 4 DETTON MILL BRIDGE (NGR: SO 663 796)
The existing bridge is to be replaced with a precast prestressed concrete beam and slab deck on reinforced concrete abutments.
The existing bridge is a 20th-century structure over the River Rea replacing an earlier footbridge and ford, shown on the 1st and 1903 editions of the OS 25" maps (Ordnance Survey 1884 and 1903 1:2500 plan Shropshire Sheet No. LXXIII.10).
The shrunken medieval settlement of Detton lies 350m to the east of Detton Mill Bridge. The western road into the former settlement probably crossed the River Rea at this point.
Other than this river crossing point, no known archaeological sites will be directly affected by the bridge strengthening works.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 5 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 5 MELLIN-Y-GROGUE (NGR: SO 232 770)
The existing reinforced concrete bridge deck is to be replaced with pre-cast pre- stressed concrete beams on the existing masonry abutments.
A brief account of the Mellin-y-Grogue Bridge is given in Blackwell, 1985 (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, p87). The bridge was built in 1938 and replaced a footbridge and ford across the Hurgin or Crochen Brook. The footbridge and ford are shown on the 1st and 1903 editions of the OS 25" maps (Ordnance Survey 1886 & 1903 1:2500 Shropshire Sheet No. LXXV.4).
The brook supplied water to Mellin-y-Grogue Mill (County SMR No. SA15734), a Listed Building, and will have formed part of the mill's water management system.
Other than the crossing point over the brook, no known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 6 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 6 STANTON LACY (NGR: SO 495 788)
Stanton Lacy Bridge is a wrought iron through girder bridge; it is to be completely reconstructed with a steel girder through bridge in the same location. The river bed will also need to be lowered here by 400mm.
Accounts of the Stanton Lacy Bridge (County SMR No. SA3458) appear in Hill (Hill, M C, 1959: Iron and Steel Bridges in Shropshire 1788-1901, TSAS LVI Part II 1959, p117) and Blackwell (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, pp42 & 78).
In the early 19th century, there was an old, possibly medieval, bridge of three semicircular stone arches across the River Corve at Stanton Lacy. In 1821 it was reported as being in a near ruinous condition. In c. 1826 it was replaced by a new stone bridge, also of three stone arches. By 1878, however, the abutments supporting the arches were seen to have been undermined, and the bridge was replaced with the existing structure. The wrought iron was supplied by the Coalbrookdale Company.
Some stone rubble in the stream bed on the south side of the bridge may have derived from one of the old bridges. A number of small islands in the stream c. 10m to the south of the bridge may mark the site of one of the earlier bridges.
A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 26th June 2002.
A photographic record should be made of the bridge before the commencement of the strengthening works.
An archaeological watching brief should also accompany the demolition of the existing bridge and groundworks associated with the construction of the new bridge.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 7 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 7 GONSALL LANE (NGR: SJ 477 043)
The Gonsall Lane bridge is a wrought iron through girder bridge across the Cound Brook just east of the A49 a mile north of Dorrington. The bridge is to be replaced with a steel girder through bridge in the same location.
A brief account of the Gonsall Lane Bridge is given in Blackwell, 1985 (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, p74). Although the date of the bridge's construction is not known, there is a manufacturer's plate inscribed Dyne Steel & Co, Engineers, Newport, Mon. on the southern parapet. Identical name-plates survive on the Condover New Bridge, built in 1883-4.
The bridge is a wrought iron lattice through girder bridge on brick abutments and with brick wing-walls. The wing-wall parapets have stone copings, while the bridge parapets have wooden rails.
A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 27th June 2002.
A photographic record should be made of the bridge before the commencement of the strengthening works.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 8 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 8 CORVE BRIDGE, DIDDLEBURY (NGR: SO 520 852)
The existing bridge is a reinforced concrete structure, and is to be replaced with a concrete beam and slab deck on concrete abutments downstream.
Two cropmark enclosures (County SMR Nos. SA4194 and SA4195) are located 200m to the west of the bridge. The bridge lies c. 530m to the west of Corfham Castle (SA179), a medieval motte and bailey castle and moated site, and the possible former settlement of Corfham (SA992). These sites should not be affected by the proposed bridge strengthening work. The modern bridge is situated on a possible ancient crossing point of the River Corve by the road between Diddlebury and Corfham.
Other than the possible former river crossing point, no known archaeological sites will be directly Other than this river crossing point, no known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work affected by the bridge strengthening works.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 9 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 9 MORTON MILL (NGR: SJ 575 227)
Morton Mill bridge is a sandstone culvert. A new concrete slab is the be placed over the bridge arch.
The existing bridge is part of the complex of buildings and the water management system that comprise Morton Mill (County Sites and Monuments No. SA4421), a Listed Building.
There is a brief published history of Morton Mill (Chaplin, R, 1969: A Forgotten Industrial Valley, Shropshire News Letter No. 36, Shropshire Archaeological Society, pp5-6). A forge was operating on the site in the mid 17th century, and in 1757 it was briefly leased by John "Iron Mad" Wilkinson before he transferred his operations to Willey in 1759. In 1761 a new consortium undertook the building of a "strong substantial forge" on the site of the old forge. By the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, the mill complex was operated as a saw mill and a corn mill (Ordnance Survey 1881 (1st ed.) & 1902 1:2500 plan, Shropshire Sheet No. XXII.14).
The Morton Mill bridge carries the lane from Edgebolton to Morton Corbett over the feed channel from the mill pool on the north side of the lane to one of the wheelbays of the mill on the south side of the road. On the north side of the road, the bridge can be seen to consist of a brick arch with brick and sandstone wing walls, of 18th-century date. An iron grill lies across the arch. The parapet along the road edge is of sandstone with timber rails. On the south side of the road a low stone parapet is visible in the grass verge. An iron waterwheel in a wheelbay and associated mill machinery is visible through an opening in the north wall of the mill.
A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 27th June 2002.
Morton Mill is a well-preserved if somewhat neglected post-medieval watermill. The bridge to be repaired is an original feature of the 18th-century forge complex. A photographic record of the bridge should be made before the commencement of the bridge strengthening works. The works should be carried out in such a manner as to minimise the damage to the existing structure. An archaeological watching brief should also accompany the strengthening works.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 10 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 10 MOR BRIDGE, HAY (NGR: SO 730 888) An existing reinforced concrete bridge over the Mor Brook is to be completely rebuilt.
This is not the Mor Bridge described by Blackwell (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, p60), which lies some 380m to the southeast and is a cast iron arch of 1824 carrying the towpath along the west bank of the River Severn across the mouth of the Mor Brook.
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works here.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 11 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 11 PROLLEY MOOR NO.1 (NGR: SO 391 928)
The existing reinforced concrete beam and slab Prolley Moor No. 1 Bridge is to be replaced with a cast in situ box culvert.
The present bridge over the Criftin Brook was built in 1930 by Clun Rural District Council (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, pp86-7)
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works here.
No archaeological provision will be required for the work to this bridge.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 12 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 12 CLUNTON BRIDGE (NGR: SO 335 812)
The parapets on the existing structure are to be replaced by casting new cantilevered deck sections, and culverts to the north are to be slabbed over.
The existing bridge over the River Clun at Clunton is an early to mid 20th century concrete structure (built after c. 1920) which replaced an old footbridge (County SMR No. SA3449) and ford. The old footbridge lay some 10m to the east of the existing bridge, according to the 1st and 1903 editions of the OS 1:25" map (Ordnance Survey 1884 & 1903 1:2500 Shropshire Sheet No. LXIX.8). A brief account of the bridge is given in Blackwell (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, pp10-1). The old bridge comprised a timber deck and hand rails supported on stone piers, and was thought to be of some antiquity. Apparently all traces of the old bridge have disappeared.
The bridge also lies across the point where the tailrace of Clunton Mill (SA18047) rejoined the River Clun.
A watching brief should accompany the bridge strengthening works here in order to record any remains of the old bridge, and any features associated with the Clunton Mill revealed during the course of the works.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 13 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 13 DOBSON'S BRIDGE (NGR: SJ 492 342)
The bridge to be strengthened at Dobson's Bridge is a concrete box structure across a canal overflow channel some 80m to the west of Dobson's Bridge on the Prees branch of the Ellesmere Canal.
A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 27th June 2002.
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works here.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 14 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 14 COPTIVNEY BRIDGE (NGR: SJ 409 358)
The existing cast iron and brick railway bridge is to be demolished and replaced with a reinforced concrete structure.
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works here.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 15 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 15 DORRINGTON BRIDGE (NGR: SJ 734 407)
The existing cast iron and masonry railway bridge is to have its decking removed and the resulting void filled in.
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works here.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 16 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 16 NORTON-IN-HALES STATION BRIDGE (NGR: SJ 700 390)
The existing cast iron and masonry railway bridge is to have its decking removed and the resulting void filled in.
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works here.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 17 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 17 UN-NAMED BRIDGE, BETTON (NGR: SJ 687 378)
The existing cast iron and masonry railway bridge is to have its decking removed and the resulting void filled in.
No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works here.
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 18 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 18 CONDOVER NEW BRIDGE (NGR: SJ 497 055)
The existing Condover New Bridge is to be completely demolished and replaced with a new precast prestressed beam deck on concrete abutments. A partially collapsed weir immediately downstream is to be removed and the river bed lowered by 300mm. Part of a boundary wall belonging to Condover Hall, a Listed Building (County SMR No. SA12347), is to be demolished and rebuilt.
Accounts of the Condover New Bridge (County SMR No. SA3455) appear in Hill (Hill, M C, 1959: Iron and Steel Bridges in Shropshire 1788-1901, TSAS LVI Part II 1959, pp118-9) and Blackwell (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, pp73-4). The Condover New Bridge is a plate girder bridge with sandstone abutments and wing walls. The steelwork was supplied by the Dyne Steel Co., and plaques inscribed "Dyne Steel & Co, Engineers, Newport, Mon." survive on the parapets. There is an identical plaque on the nearby Gonsal Lane Bridge at Dorrington. The bridge was built in 1883 to replace an earlier foot and horse bridge and ford across the Cound Brook. Remains of the former ford can be seen in the river bed 50m to the west (upstream) of the existing bridge, and a weir 85m to the west (upstream). The partially collapsed weir immediately downstream of the bridge may be the remains of the earlier ford.
A possible shrunken or shifted medieval settlement (County SMR No. SA958) is thought to lie in the field to the southwest of the bridge.
A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 27th June 2002.
A photographic record should be made of the bridge before the commencement of the strengthening works.
An archaeological watching brief should also accompany the demolition of the bridge and groundworks associated with the construction of the new bridge.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 19 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Bridge Ref. No.: 22 PERRY FARM (NGR: SJ 347 302)
Perry Farm Bridge is a reinforced concrete slab bridge on reinforced concrete abutments, built in 1926. The proposed strengthening work involves the provision of a temporary footbridge immediately upstream of the existing bridge and the replacement of the existing deck slab.
The bridge lies approximately 60m to the west of the southwest corner of the site of a Roman marching camp (County SMR No. SA935). This site will not be directly affected by the bridge strengthening work.
The bridge is described by Blackwell, who recounts how the installation of a gauging weir beneath the bridge in the 1970s caused the subsidence of the west abutment of the bridge. (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, pp84-5)
No archaeological provision will be required for this work.
Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 20 Report No. 211 July 2002