Design and Access Statement
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Wiltshire Council Bridge Maintenance Bridge Number: R12-024 Old Canal Bridge Design and Access Statement Old Canal Bridge Wiltshire Council Bridge Number R12-024 October 2018 Wiltshire Council Bythesea Road Trowbridge Wiltshire BA14 8JN Wiltshire Council Bridge Maintenance Bridge Number: R12-024 Old Canal Bridge Document Control Sheet Project Title Old Canal Bridge – Minor Capital Maintenance Report Title Design and Access Statement Revision A Reference R12-024/CP/Design and Access statement Record of Issue: Issue Status Author Date Checked Date A Consent C. Pearce 05.10.20018 J. Haines 08.10.2018 Design and Access Statement: Old Canal Bridge 1 Application Details Location of the proposal: Old Canal Bridge On restricted byway GRIM13 Over the disused Salisbury to Southampton Canal East Grimstead, Wiltshire, SP5 3SH Type of application: Listed building Consent Name of applicant: Wiltshire Council, c/o Chris Pearce Figure 1 Eastern Elevation of Bridge 2 Introduction Old Canal Bridge carries byway GRIM13 over the former Southampton and Salisbury Canal. Records suggests the Canal was never fully completed and this structure is the sole surviving Bridge. The bridge has been subject to regular inspections inline with the Councils highways protocols. Separation between the arch and bridge spandrel, on the eastern portal, was first recorded in 2010. At this time, due to the extent and width of cracking, it was deemed a low priority and agreed the separation would continue to be monitored. Subsequent inspections in the intervening years have recorded ongoing movement. The extent of the cracking and rate of separation means it is now necessary to complete repairs to preserve the integrity of the Structure. The Bridge is Grade II listed, the listing details is noted below: List Entry Number: 1181681. Date first listed: 28-Mar-1985. Design and Access Statement: Old Canal Bridge Statutory Address: SOUTHAMPTON AND SALISBURY CANAL, CANAL BRIDGE. SU 22 NW GRIMSTEAD EAST GRIMSTEAD 6/92 Canal Bridge Canal bridge. Late C18. English bond brick, concrete coping to parapet. Plain segmental arch with parapet and slightly swept revetment walls. Included as the only bridge surviving on the unfinished Southampton and Salisbury Canal, this part complete by c1795. (M. C. Corfield (edit), A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Wiltshire, 1978.) Listing NGR: SU2248727234. 3 Previous Planning History There are no previous planning applications relating to the bridge structure. It is clear the bridge has received some historical minor maintenance. This evidenced by changes in pointing colour and texture. There is no record of historical works being completed within the bridge file, therefore it is likely the work has been executed by well-meaning volunteers or the Parish Council. 4 Site Context The bridge lies in the Parish of East Grimstead. The area is not listed as a Conservation area. The bridge is dated C18th, and was built during the construction of Southampton to Salisbury Canal. The Southampton arm of the Canal started at God’s Hill Tower and ran through Houndwell, Millbrook and ended at Redbridge. The Salisbury arm started at the Alderbury (the summit) and extended through East Grimstead, West Dean, Lockerley and ended at Kimbridge Junction. From Kimbridge the route followed the Andover Canal to Redbridge. It is unclear whether the canal was ever fully finished as issues were citied with a tunnel on the Southampton section. However reports suggests boats were using the Canal in parts from 1802. The Canal failed to operate as a profitable business and due to a combination of lack of boats and consequently profit. Shortly after Construction investment into the maintenance of the navigation was not undertook. It is thought the shareholders could see the business was failing. The canal closed during 1808. The Canal become a ditch and stagnant watercourse with a few sporadic sections infilled. It wasn’t until the death of an old woman who drowned in the canal at Houndwell in 1841 when the Canal was fully infilled. The local borough Council then obtained powers in the Marsh Act of 1844 to infill stretches of the Canal. Work began in 1846. In 1845, the Southampton and Dorchester Railway was authorised. Between Northam and Redbridge, the railway used much of the line of the Southampton arm. In the meantime Bishopstoke & Salisbury Railway was opened on 27 January 1847 from what is now known as Eastleigh, through Romsey and up the Dun valley. Although the bed of Salisbury arm of the waterway was not used extensively by the railway, it was crossed in about seventeen places. Much of the former bed Stylistically the bridge is unassuming and modest in appearance. It comprises of red brick elevations and with a 2 brick thick arch ring and an interesting brick on edge ring. Design and Access Statement: Old Canal Bridge The surrounding area is rural and there is no one dominant construction style. However red brick is the preferred construction choice. Immediately adjacent to the bridge is a church which has been constructed from stone. 5 Design principles applied to the proposal Arch ring separation is not uncommon in masonry arch bridges. It is caused by loading applied over the extrados of the barrel. The load is attracted to the spandrel wall and causes a cracking through the arch barrel close to the outer face. If the separation is left unattended eventually the spandrel will completely separate from the parent section of the bridge and collapse. Undoubtedly, the most widely used method to arrest the separation is known as arch ring stitching. This is the proposed approach at this bridge. The repair involves coring through the arch and installing a metal bar which is grouted into position. A salvaged core end is then inserted to disguise the repair. This repair is discrete in approach and wont affect the visual appearance of the bridge. The original crack will be pointed in mortar similar in colour and texture to that already used within the bridge. This will also act as “tale-tale” to ensure movement has arrested. Where some of the brick has been lost a repair using like-for-like bricks will be employed. Design and Access Statement: Old Canal Bridge 6 Scale The overall scale and appearance of the bridge will remain unchanged. 7 Landscaping and visual appearance There will be no effect on the adjacent landscape. The repairs will be anonymous once the work has been completed. 8 Conclusion The aim of the proposal is to arrest the arch ring separation at eastern portal of Old Canal Bridge to prevent any possible collapse of the spandrel. The works have been designed to maintain the character of the structure and to have no negative affect on the historic fabric or character of the structure. End. .