| | |
Lady's Bridge |
 |
Wilcot, Wiltshire KAC43.74 |
|
|
KandAC mile 43
|
|
|
|
Rusticated stonework and decoration on the arch of Lady's Bridge,
erected 1808, bridge number 120.
|
|
|
Lady's Bridge is an accommodation bridge giving access to field north
of the canal from the road by Cocklebury Farm.
|
|
|
The bridge is elegantly built in stone; 43 miles 74 chains from
Reading.
|
|
|
headroom |
11ft6ins |
|
|
depth of water |
6ft2ins |
|
|
|
Lady's Bridge from the westward.
|
|
|
The local land owner at the time the canal was dug, Lady Sussanah
Wroughton, 1793, objected to having a commercial canal cut through her
land. Her price was 500.00 in cash, the ornamentation of this bridge,
and landscaping of the canal to the east into an ornamental lake. The
bridge is built in ashlar and rusticated stonework, with decorative
carving and balustrades.
|
|
|
|
Rusticated panel on the east face of Lady's Bridge.
|
|
|
I'm told that if you look carefully there is a face worked into a
rusticated panel somewhere on the bridge.
|
|
|
|
Decoration on the west face.
|
|
|
|
Balustrades in the parapet.
|
|
|
The bridge has a stop groove, a slot for stop planks to make a
temporary dam to cut off a section of canal.
|
|
|
|
The pile of stop planks on a rack made of old fishbelly rail; held in
place by barbed wire and thriving, though trimmed, ash trees! These
have not been used in a while.
|
|
|
Over the bridge and down the farm track and across the minor road, is
Swanborough Tump. King Alfred is said to have written his will here
about the time he was fighting the Danes.
|
|
|
Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000
|
|