Description and History of Site:-
Stone-built bridge with three arches situated in the centre of Hebden Bridge. It has three segmental arches, the voussoirs having two pointed breakwaters. Packhorse bridge spanning the Hebden Water, with stones recording various repairs carried out to it over the years, stating: 'REPAIRED BY HELP OF RICHARD NALER SESSIONS 1602' and that it was 'REPAYRED BY THE RIDINGE BY ORDER OF SESSIONS AUGUST 4 1657 BY HN:RG: RG'. 'REPAIRED 1845','REPAIRED 1890', and 'RESTORED 2011'. The earliest two of these tablets are now much weathered and some of the text is now impossible to read. The Eastern land arch is for the recently restored tail goit of the neighbouring Bridge Mill. The bridge was important in providing a route to Heptonstall Church from Wadsworth township. The neighbouring bridge at West End effectively replaced it in 1772 and the packhorse bridge is now a pedestrian route. - Andrew Robinson 23 September 2016.

Further Reading and References:-
Crump, W B. Ancient highways Part III - Halifax to Heptonstall, Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society. 1924 p121-125 and illustrations.
YAHS - Hatcher Card Index. Research funded by the Yorkshire Arts Association 1972.
Jervoise, E. The ancient bridges of the north of England. Architectural Press, 1931; reprinted by E. P. Publishing, 1973, p103.
Thomas, D. The Old Bridge, Hebden Bridge. Hebden Bridge Literary and Scientific Society Local History Booklets Vol. 3, 1982, p3-7.
Hatcher, J. The industrial architecture of Yorkshire. Phillimore, 1985, p62.
Heginbottom, J A. The early bridges of Calderdale. Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society, 1986, p.59-60.
Thompson W J (ed). A brief guide to the industrial heritage of West Yorkshire. Association for Industrial Archaeology, 1989.

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Key Words :- packhorse bridge river

Viewing the Site :- The bridge is accessible at all times from Bridge Gate and Old Gate.

Address :- Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 8EX
Grid Ref :- SD 99218 27290
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.741990 , Long -2.013335
Local Authority :- Calderdale Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1228914, 1005795,
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- c1510 -
Record Date :- 5 May 2015

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson