Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Old Swan Bridge, Pulborough

A Scheduled Monument in Pulborough, West Sussex

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 50.9563 / 50°57'22"N

Longitude: -0.5121 / 0°30'43"W

OS Eastings: 504599.47984

OS Northings: 118479.626981

OS Grid: TQ045184

Mapcode National: GBR GJ7.WX6

Mapcode Global: FRA 96TL.2BN

Entry Name: Old Swan Bridge, Pulborough

Scheduled Date: 1 May 1951

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1005845

English Heritage Legacy ID: WS 139

County: West Sussex

Civil Parish: Pulborough

Built-Up Area: West Chiltington Common

Traditional County: Sussex

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): West Sussex

Church of England Parish: Hardham St Botolph

Church of England Diocese: Chichester

Summary

Pulborough Bridge, 44m south-west of Kingfishers.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 30th October 2014. The record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes a late 18th century multi-span bridge situated over the River Arun at Pulborough. It is also known as Old Swan Bridge.

The bridge is constructed of ashlar in the medieval tradition with four semi-circular arches. There are blunt cutwaters between the arches on each side carried up above the water level to form buttresses. The parapet has rounded coping. The southernmost arch was added in 1834. The bridge was restored in 1899.

It is Grade II listed.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Multi-span bridges are structures of two or more arches supported on piers. They were constructed for the use of pedestrians and packhorse or vehicular traffic, crossing rivers or streams, often replacing or supplementing earlier fords. Stone or brick bridges constructed from the medieval period onwards were built with pointed, semicircular or segmental arches. The bridge abutments and revetting of the river banks also form part of the bridge. The theory and practice of masonry construction for bridges reached a high point in the 18th century. After this time increasing demand led to quicker builds with the adoption of iron bridges and later metal truss and suspension bridges.

Despite restoration work in the past, Pulborough Bridge survives in good condition with some fine masonry.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
West Sussex HER 2341 - MWS3357. NMR TQ01NW36. PastScape 393051. LBS 298375.

Source: Historic England

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.