Key entrance OTHER BRIDGES SPANNING CASTLE HILL COUNTRY PARK BROOK

King William’s Bridge is one of a number of old stone bridges spanning the between Anstey and . These include the Anstey Bridge, the ‘Great Bridge’ of old, and two bridges at Thurcaston. KING WILLIAM’S

BRIDGE & THE

ROTHLEY BROOK

The Anstey bridge is considered to be an investment of Abbey (who had land holdings in this area). One of the bridges at Thurcaston (below) has an old ?marker stone located besides it.

King William’s Bridge

CASTLE HILL COUNTRY PARK

Park Services Tel: 0116 454 1003

email: [email protected] Tel: 0116 454 1003 This stone may be associated with , as they had property Friends of Castle Hill Country Park here too, including Anstey’s old Nether email: [email protected] and Stocking Fields. located West of the Rothley Brook. All of the Rothley Castle Hill Archaeology Project Brook bridges are located on Public Robin Matthewman (Project Coordinator) Rights of Way. email: [email protected] King Williams Bridge Another old ford was earlier associated with Rothley Brook the nearby Anstey Packhorse Bridge, located off Leicester Road. Recently restored, this small stone rubble bridge has two arches and pointed cutwater The old Anstey Enclosure map of 1762 The Rothley or Anstey Brook has its source on its upstream side. The bridge is medieval, Also indicates that there was once a large near Bagworth , North West possibly dating from 1500, but was widened rectangular-shaped pool (livestock pond?) and joins the Soar at Rothley. in more recent times. located in this vicinity. Historically known as the ‘Great Brook’ or ‘Heather Brook’ this forms the The Sheepwash southern boundary to Charnwood Forest—A landscape of considerable natural beauty, and whose ancient rocks and geology are of Formerly located at the bottom of Anstey’s national (if not international) significance. Sheepwash Lane, little remains of the old

Sheep Wash. A brick arch visible besides The City Wildlife Project identified over the track leading to , marks 40 bird species the position of a stone based tunnel and line King William’s Bridge, restored 2008 for this section what would have once been the of an old The bridge is named after King William III of the Rothley channel linking up with King William’s Bridge who visited Bradgate, residence of Lord Grey Brook, the and Rothley Brook. Earl of Stamford, in 1696. Early maps and observations records refer to is simply as ’Damgate’. including With floodgate management at the bridge, Kingfisher, this tunnel may have once functioned as a Tradition has it that the Bridge was widened Great Spotted sheep dip. The barrel of this tunnel is to take William’s entourage, but these works Woodpecker, constructed of brick and slate, similar to the may well have been associated with Anstey Little and Tawny extension to the bridge, and presumably of Enclosures in the later part of the 18th Owl. same date. Century. The brick-lined arches associated with the extension are clearly visible on the In the past The Rothley Brook downstream side. there have been reported sightings of Water Vole & Otter. King Williams’ Bridge is protected as a scheduled monument. Some large mature willow trees are found along the stream banks. An old ford – ‘Plumford’ or ‘Plumpford’ - in old King William’s Bridge & Environs in the 1880s documents, was located upstream of the King Williams Bridge and the Rothley Brook Bridge. This ancient crossing- point lined up are designated as a Site of Importance CASTLE HILL COUNTRY PARK with ‘the Slang’, and an old track leading on to for Nature Conservation (SINC). Bradgate. It was destroyed in 1960s following developments on Road.