Mudford Bridge
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| Bridge Name: | Mudford Bridge | |||
| No.: | 9 | |||
| Location: | Mudford – Carries the A359 | |||
| Build Date: | 1930’s | |||
| Engineer: | Edward Stead | |||
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| Description: | ||||
| Uppon complaint made unto this Court by one Joshua Godfrey of Montague freemason that there is muche money due to him for worke about fower Bridges of this County in the westerne division viz. Ivelchester Bridge, Mudford Bridge, Petherton Bridge, and Load Bridge ; And for that Mr. Smith Treasurer of the Bridges in the said westerne division is att present unfurnished with money to pay and dischardge the same ; It is therefore ordered that Mr. Tucker of Shepton Treasurer of the Bridges within the easterne division of this County doe forthwith pay unto the said Mr. Smith Treasurer for the westerne Division as aforesaid the some of fortie pounds which the said Mr. Smith is to yssue out to the said Godfrey towards his satisfaction for the said moneyes due to him.1
At Mudford the road from Yeovil to Castle Cary crosses the river and low meadowland by a causeway which has four small arches, and by a bridge with one large and one very small arch. These arches are separated by a pier with very massive cut-waters. These have recesses at road level, 6 feet in depth, which would hold quite a number of persons. The width of the roadway is 13 feet. It is easy to imagine the difficulty there must have been in crossing this swampy spot before the causeway and bridge were built. It is quite clear how the nearby village got its appropriate name2 The bridge described by Jervoise above was later replaced by a two arch concrete reinforced bridge designed by Edward Stead. For full details of the design of the new bridge click Here |
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| References: | 1.Quarter Session Records Held at Wells 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th January 1649 2.The Ancient Bridges of Southern England by E.Jervoise published in 1930 |
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