Site Event/Activity record ECH5931 - Holt-Farndon Bridge Restortation Works: Archaeological Watching Brief

A watching brief and survey was undertaken by the Chester Archaeological Service in 1990 at Holt-Farndon Bridge during a programme of restoration of the bridge which had suffered damage from heavy traffic formerly using it. The programme of restoration comprised the relaying of the carraigeway in setts at its original lower level, and the repairing and repointing of all the external masonry. The removal of the carraigeway revealed parts of the footings of the gate tower, including the polygonal corner turrets and what were probably gutter stones. The survey of the elevations enabled various periods and styles of earlier repairs to be identified. It also demonstrated that considerable quantities of the original structure still survive and that the bridge's present appearance is very similar to its medieval one, apart from the loss of two arches and the gate tower. (1) For original notes and photographs from 1990 watching brief see Library Linked files.