Clattern Bridge - High Street, Kingston upon Thames, London, UK
N 51° 24.521 W 000° 18.411
30U E 687297 N 5698715
Clattern Bridge is located in the High Street at Kingston upon Thames. The thirteenth century arch bridge spans the Hogsmill River that joins the River Thames approximately 130 metres to the north west of the bridge.
Waymark Code: WMNRKF
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/26/2015
Views: 2
The original part of the bridge is on the north west side of the road where stone was used to create the arches (see photos). The brickwork facing, on top is an 18th century addition, with the inner part, on the bridge, being stone. In the 19th century, the bridge was widened to the south east where brick and stone was used to extend the arches.
The BBC website tells us about the Clattern Bridge:
The Clattern Bridge crosses over the River Hogsmill, just before it joins the River Thames. The stone arch on the downstream side are the oldest parts of the bridge. The original Clattern Bridge was only eight feet wide and the oldest bit is still driven over every day.
It was built in 1293. It was called the Clattern Bridge because you could hear horses hoofs crossing the Bridge. On the bridge there is a badge with the three fishes of Kingston. This is the Coat of Arms of Kingston dated 1623. The shield shows three silver salmon on a background of blue.
One of the Domesday Book entries for Kingston mentions three salmon fisheries in the Thames at Kingston. In 1984 some small salmon were put back into the river as the river is now getting cleaner.
The bridge is an Ancient Monument with the entry at the Historic England website telling us:
Reasons for Designation
Multi-span bridges are structures of two or more arches supported on piers. They were constructed throughout the medieval period for the use of pedestrians and packhorse or vehicular traffic, crossing rivers or streams, often replacing or supplementing earlier fords. During the early medieval period timber was used, but from the 12th century stone (and later brick) bridges became more common, with the piers sometimes supported by a timber raft. Most stone or brick bridges were constructed with pointed arches, although semicircular and segmental examples are also known. A common medieval feature is the presence of stone ashlar ribs underneath the arch. The bridge abutments and revetting of the river banks also form part of the bridge. Where medieval bridges have been altered in later centuries, original features are sometimes concealed behind later stonework, including remains of earlier timber bridges. The roadway was often originally cobbled or gravelled. The building and maintenance of bridges was frequently carried out by the church and by guilds, although landowners were also required to maintain bridges. From the mid-13th century the right to collect tolls, known as pontage, was granted to many bridges, usually for repairs; for this purpose many urban bridges had houses or chapels on them, and some were fortified with a defensive gateway. Medieval multi-span bridges must have been numerous throughout England, but most have been rebuilt or replaced and less than 200 examples are now known to survive. As a rare monument type largely unaltered, surviving examples and examples that retain significant medieval and post-medieval fabric are considered to be of national importance.
Despite 18th and 19th century alterations and additions, Clattern Bridge is a good example of a medieval multi-span bridge which survives well. It includes some impressive medieval masonry.
The bridge will contain archaeological information relating to its medieval construction and use, and is considered to retain archaeological remains associated with the earlier Saxon bridge.
History
Details
The monument includes a medieval multi-span bridge situated over the Hogsmill River, a short distance from where it meets the east side of the River Thames in Kingston.
The bridge has three semi-circular arches, dating to the 12th century, each comprising two rings of ashlar dressing above which is rubble and flint filling. The upper part is an 18th century addition and is of red brick with stone capping. On the south side the bridge has been extended in the 18th and 19th centuries. The south face of the bridge has 19th century stone columns with cubic capitals, surmounted by three columns with scallop capitals. There are no cutwaters on either side.
In the late 12th century, the Saxon ‘Clatrung Bridge’ was replaced by a new bridge crossing the Hogsmill River. In 1758 the Court of Assembly voted 220 towards 'widening and enlarging Clattering Bridge'. The brick parapet was taken down to road level, and the bridge was extended southwards by three red brick arches 7m wide. These were built beside the existing stone arches, and bonded into them, a brick parapet was raised on the southern side of the bridge, and one footpath was constructed. In 1852, the bridge was still further widened on the southern side by the addition of three more arches of stock brick. At the same time an ornamental railing was set up in place of the brick parapet, and this further enlarged bridge became known as Clattern Bridge.
The upstanding remains of Clattern Bridge are Grade I listed.
As mentioned, the bridge is Grade I listed and the entry at the Historic England website tells us:
Bridge over Hogsmill Stream. Late C12, with later alterations. 3 slightly stilted arches with 2 rings of ashlar dressings and rubble and flint filling. Upper part, C18 brick with stone capping. No cutwaters. Bridge widened on south side. Mid 19th century cast iron railings with inset spiked circles between columns with cubic capitals. South face of bridge articulated with stone ½ columns also with cubic capitals, surmounted by 3 columns with scallop capitals, probably also mid 19th century.