WALLINGFORD BRIDGE

'Wallingford Bridge' is a medieval bridge over the River Thames between Wallingford and Crowmarsh Gifford in the English county of Oxfordshire (historically in Berkshire until 1974 reorganization).
The first reference to a bridge across the Thames between Wallingford and Crowmarsh Gifford is from 1141, when King Stephen besieged Wallingford Castle. The first stone bridge is credited to Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall, and four remaining arches are believed to contain 13th century elements. It was the main route to Gloucester and South Wales until the bridges at Abingdon and Burford were built in 1415. Major repairs involved stone from the dissolved Holy Trinity Priory in 1530. Four arches were removed so a drawbridge could be inserted during the siege of the castle in the Civil War of 1646, and these were replaced with timber structures until repair in 1751. Following a flood, three arches were rebuilt in 1809, and a parapet and balustrade added. The current bridge is 900 feet long and has 22 arches.

Contents

See also

External links

See also

★ Crossings of the River Thames

External links

★ Wallingford History Gateway