NHER 43131 (Monument record) - Site of post medieval bridge

2005. Exposed by cattle skip in river bank near to where (S1) marks a footbridge not shown on (S2).

September 2005. Afterwards part excavated in river bank, mudflats and below water.
Bricks found, at least five complete examples and many fragmentary, mixed with flint lumps and animal bone.
One brick retained; it has a concave underside but flat top; one end has a double roll moulding, the other end has a projecting roll, so as to fit between the double roll on the next brick. Overall length 298mm (11 3/4 inches) width of base 190mm (7 1/2 inches), overall width 250mm (10 inches). The bricks are pierced by two longitudinal oval holes. The fabric has an orange core and a surface part yellow part orange. The flat side has impressed marks as if it had been dried on wire mesh. In one end a number is impressed. It would appear that the bricks were made to fit together to form the core of a bridge, probably of several arches, the flat side carrying the roadway.
(S5) states that they resemble Hitch’s Patent Bricks, generally found only in Herts (S3) (S4), but as these were always stamped PATENT he believes these examples are a local attempt to copy Hitch’s process and therefore important. They have also been found at NHER 43132.
Copies of (S3), (S4) in file.
(S6) and (S7) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 24 January 2006.