NHER 5780 (Structure record) - Newton Flotman Bridge

Newton Flotman Bridge.

Scheduled.
Short Description of Monument and its condition:
"This bridge is partly medieval, three of its arches are of stone each with four chamfered sides. The other two arches are four-centred, one being built of stone and the other, of much later date of brick. This by the of arch has also been used for widening of the downstream side. The total span is 34 yards [31.09m], and the roadway is now 24 feet [7.32m] wide, compared with its original width of 8 ft [2.44m]."
Information from Ancient Monuments Form (S5).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S6) for the current scheduling details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 30 September 2024.

November 1959. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Former road bridge. 15th century and later. Ashlar and brick. Originally of four bays widened and one bay to south east rebuilt in brick in 183[8] (see datestone on parapet). Lengthened by one bay to north-west in 20th century. Three surviving bays consist of shallow two-centred arches of two chamfered orders. Vaults reinforced by closely-set chamfered transverse ribs. 19th- and 20th-century parapets in brick with stone coping. Also Scheduled as an Ancient Monument."
Information from (S6).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S6) for the current listing details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 25 February 2024.

Upstream (south) side of bridge is of stone, medieval, single ribbed arches. Perhaps 14th century. Widened on north (downstream) side and lengthened by an extra arch on south-east, and parapets added on both sides, in red brick in 1838 (date on parapet with 'S.I.N'). Blomefield in (S8) refers to the bridge as being of brick […a very good brick arched bridge, repaired at the expense of the county…] but this must be a mistake. Originally 8ft [2.44m] wide. Local press article from 1962 (S10) states that the bridge was damaged by floods in 1912.
A drawing now in possession [1], reproduced in above article, was made c.1800. [1] stated the river was fordable nearby.
The brick sections are now (1980) in poor state of repair.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 15 October 1975 and amended 4 September 1980.
Information from HER Record Notes (S4).
P. Watkins (HES), 25 February 2024.

June-July 1976. Field Observation.
New arch added at north-west end, and new bridge built to bypass this one, to south-east (river now flows almost entirely through new arch). Massive flint wall, curving slightly, ran into the north bank from approx. underneath the north-west parapet; probably the tie wall for the original bridge. It had been cut at a later date by a culvert or similar drain. A brick wall of similar form ran into the bank from under the brick section, being the tie wall for this part. The springing of the final brick arch was revealed, but the final stone arch had been backed by a brick retaining wall in 1838. When the flint tie wall was removed it was found to consist of mortared flint cemented together, and rested on a large numbers of pointed short wooden stakes, apparently silver birch, retaining their bark and well preserved.
This cut was continued down to water level in peaty soil; no trace of a ford or any Roman crossing place was found.
The construction of the new bridge produced no finds except 19th-century brick revetments and various odd wooden stakes at differing depths - none apparently of great age.
Trial bores produced no evidence of Roman road.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 17 June 1976 and 16 July 1976. Information from HER Record Notes (S4).
These discoveries were also reported in (S11).
P. Watkins (HES), 25 February 2024.

November 1985. Documentary Research.
Dissertation by [2] reproduces photo showing the 1912 flood damage - the middle of one arch vault collapsed, not the whole bridge as some local people say.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 25 November 1985. Information from HER Record Notes (S4).
P. Watkins (HES), 25 February 2024.