Industrial History Online
Packhorse bridge
Key Words :- bridge
Address :- Bridge Street, Moulton, Suffolk
Grid Ref :- TL 69759 64532
Co-ordinates :- Lat 52.252772 , Long 0.485531
Local Authority :- West Suffolk Council
Pre 1974 County :- Suffolk
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II*
Historic England List No :- 1037678,
Description and History of Site:-
Four-arched late medieval bridge spanning the River Kennett on the old route from Cambridge to Bury St Edmunds.
Information panel:
This superb medieval bridge was built to carry packhorses and their goods over the river Kennet as they travelled between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
In the medieval period, commodities such as corn, cloth, poultry, fish, salt and hops were transported to market by packhorse trains of up to 50 horses. Packhorses continued to form the core of long distance transport until the end of the 18th century.
The bridge, with its four pointed arches, is built of an unusual mixture of brick, flint and stone. It is likely to date from the 14th or 15th century. The bridge probably carried a packhorse route between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
The bridge protected goods from damage that might be incurred during the crossing of a stream. The adjacent ford remained in use for wider carts and for times of low water.
The cost of repairing bridges was a large burden on a small town like Moulton. As a result, a charity known as 'The Church and Bridges Estate' was set up before 1532. Rents from an estate, consisting of four acres of land at Freckenham and thirteen acres of land around Moulton, provided an income for repairs to the bridge and the church.
Further Reading and References:-
Labrum, E A [ed]. 'Civil Engineering Heritage - Eastern and Central England'. Institution of Civil Engineers, 1994
'Historic Civil Engineering in Suffolk'. Institute of Civil Engineers leaflet, 2008
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/moulton-packhorse-bridge/
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Grid Ref :- TL 69759 64532
Co-ordinates :- Lat 52.252772 , Long 0.485531
Local Authority :- West Suffolk Council
Pre 1974 County :- Suffolk
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II*
Historic England List No :- 1037678,
Four-arched late medieval bridge spanning the River Kennett on the old route from Cambridge to Bury St Edmunds.
Information panel:
This superb medieval bridge was built to carry packhorses and their goods over the river Kennet as they travelled between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
In the medieval period, commodities such as corn, cloth, poultry, fish, salt and hops were transported to market by packhorse trains of up to 50 horses. Packhorses continued to form the core of long distance transport until the end of the 18th century.
The bridge, with its four pointed arches, is built of an unusual mixture of brick, flint and stone. It is likely to date from the 14th or 15th century. The bridge probably carried a packhorse route between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
The bridge protected goods from damage that might be incurred during the crossing of a stream. The adjacent ford remained in use for wider carts and for times of low water.
The cost of repairing bridges was a large burden on a small town like Moulton. As a result, a charity known as 'The Church and Bridges Estate' was set up before 1532. Rents from an estate, consisting of four acres of land at Freckenham and thirteen acres of land around Moulton, provided an income for repairs to the bridge and the church.
Labrum, E A [ed]. 'Civil Engineering Heritage - Eastern and Central England'. Institution of Civil Engineers, 1994
'Historic Civil Engineering in Suffolk'. Institute of Civil Engineers leaflet, 2008
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/moulton-packhorse-bridge/
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Contributor :- Suffolk IA - 26 August 2022
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Suffolk IA
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Suffolk IA