Monument record 448/1/2 - Warrington Bridge

Medieval bridge at Warrington prob built in 13th century.Bridge mentioned in 1305.In 1364 authority given to Sir John Boteler to rebuild the bridge & in 1365 & 1367 there are references to a ferry in its place.Bridge repaired in 1420 & 1453 & a new bridge was built in 1495(1).This was a stone structure known as Derby Bridge.This was repaired in 1621 & deliberately breached in 1745 to prevent the Scots of the Pretenders army from crossing the bridge(2).It was rebuilt in 1747 when a watch house at the centre of the bridge replaced the one which had previously stood at the Lancs end of the bridge.By 1812 the bridge was ruinous & replaced by a timber structure(1) which in turn was replaced by the stone Victoria Bridge in 1836(2).Reference in 1405 to the bridge as standing near the miller's house may indicate that the earlier site was near to Mersey Mills(3).The present bridge was completed in 1915(4). 1812 - Scottish skean or dirk found in the river when the old bridge was taken down(6) & a medieval purse mount or clasp(3) & a Nuremberg Counter(4_. 1836 - Gold coin found(7) but no record in Warrington museum(4). 1912 - Elizabethan silver groat found(4).

In 1305 (33 Edward I) there is mention made of the Boteler deeds of the bridge at Warrington. Bridge probably only a structure of wood and was liable to be carried away by a high flood. It was still standing in 3 Edward II (1310), on 5th July 1310 the king authorised the taking of tolls by William le Boteler and Robert le Norays for 5 years for the repairing and maintaining of the bridges at Warrington and Sankey (8).

<1> Jervoise E, 1936, Ancient Bridges of Wales & West England, /vii+5 (Book). SCH252.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 12/1-29 Harrison W 1894 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<3> Beamont W, 1887, Walks about Warrington, /168+175 (Book). SCH3666.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ68NW19/1960 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Grealey S, 1976, The Archaeology of Warrington's Past, /44 (Book). SCH3046.

<6> Beaumont W, 1886, Hale and Orford, /197 (Book). SCH3782.

<7> 1890, OS 1/500 Map, 1890 (Maps and Plans). SCH2441.

<8> Beaumont W, 1886, Hale and Orford (Book). SCH3782.

<9> Wells H (ed), 1997, The History of the House of Orford, /12 (Book). SCH3783.