Sheepwash Bridge, Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire
Posted by: 
greysman
N 53° 13.393 W 001° 42.624
30U E 586096 N 5897878
A mediaeval packhorse bridge over the River Wye at Ashford in the Water.
Waymark Code: WM91YB
Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/15/2010
Views: 4
This is an unusual packhorse bridge of three arches and with two refuges on each side above the cutwaters. Apart from it being much wider than normal it has one parapet continued in an arc to form an enclosure alongside the river. Sheep would be brought and penned therein prior to being washed in the river. The ewes, with neck halters, would be pushed into the river, ducked and made to swim downstream to rejoin their lambs. With their fleece clean they could then be sheared.
An alternative version of this is that the lambs would be put in the enclosure and the ewes driven into the water from the opposite side of the river (the village side) to swim across to their lambs, who no doubt would be making a dickens of a row in the enclosure. There is a gap in the wall on the village side which would make access easier, and a gap in the enclosure wall for the ewes to get through coming out of the river. The shepherds would make sure that the sheep got a good dunking on their way across, so cleaning the fleece prior to shearing.
Length of bridge: 18m
Height of bridge: approximately 2m above river water level.
What type of traffic does this bridge support?: pedestrians and other foot traffic.
What kind of gap does this bridge cross?:
River Wye.
Date constructed: mediaeval
Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes, people, horses and animals still cross the river using it.
Name of road or trail the bridge services: Local walking routes.
Location:
Ashford in the Water,
Derbyshire.
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