NHER 8425 (Monument record) - Wroxham Bridge

A single arch brick built bridge with a date on it of 1619. The structure itself is probably originally of that date, but it may have been partly rebuilt early in the eighteenth century.
Information from (S1).
J. Allen (NLA), 17 April, 2002.

September 1982. Visited.
Faced in stone on each side in vaguely classical style. On keystone to southeast is an illegible date said on schedule (S2) to be 1619. Underside of arch is in red brick to northwest but black brick to southeast; former seems original of 1619, latter is probably part of 18th century widening suggested by Department of the Environment, the stone facing on this side being reset. Traces of 18th or 19th century brick parapets but modern iron ramp now covers top and footbridge alongside on southeast.
E. Rose (NAU), September 1982.

A country rate was levied in 1576 to rebuild the bridge according to D. Diamond (UEA lecturer). Story that the stone came from St Benet's Abbey, and that the parapets bore a date in the 1890s, recounted in (S3); chairman of parish council states that council minute books show clearly that bridge was widened in 1897 at a cost of 300 pounds, and not in 18th century. Coping stones now in Broadland District Council depot.
E. Rose (NAU), 23 March 1984.

(S4) and (S5) in file.

Since the construction of the new footbridge further away to the southeast and the replacement of the ramp, a closer inspection is possible of the southeast face. The date is now completely weathered away. The present brick parapet on this side is totally 19th century. Some of the coping stones have been reset on top of it.
E. Rose (NLA), 31 May 2005.

September-November 2016. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of demolition of existing structures and groundworks associated with construction of new restaurant building.
This redevelopment of The Bridge Restaurant saw the demolition of a small 19th-century brick building that had abutted the bridge - exposing a previously obscured section of the structure. Here the fabric of the bridge appeared to consist mostly of 19th-century brick, with some ashlar and modern cement render scored to mimic ashlar joints. This suggests the bridge saw a significant phase of rebuilding and remedial work in the 19th century, which predated its widening in 1897. Earlier bricks and several neat ashlar blocks observed just above the waterline may be part of the original early 17th-century fabric, or relate to the 18th-century remedial work.
See report (S6) and NHER 69159 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2025.