on the button issue 7 | Page 6

Upstream
Datestone

Downstream
Datestone

This photo was taken by Fred Page on a plate camera, it is the bridge at Glebe
Meadow in the early 1920’s, taken looking north. Glebe Meadow is on the
opposite side of the river. Image: Fred Page, copyright Geoff Page 2013 ©

Arlesey Bridge
T

he River Hiz rises in Charlton, Hertfordshire and and joins the River Ivel
on the Langford parish boundary. It winds its way through Ickleford and
Arlesey, through Henlow and onto Langford. In medieval times it is believed
the only crossing of the river was at the north end of Arlesey – Church End.
The bridge is still in use and a feature of the Hiz by the refurbished flyover
on the A507. Research into other bridges in 1988 revealed why the bridge
was so significant.

Upstream
Datestone

The early Days

Manorial records from the Medieval period reference the surname ‘Brygge’
in documents from 1378/9 perhaps referencing a bridge. ‘Scotelfordbrugg’
is mentioned in 1396/7 when Abbott William of Waltham Abbey granted
one rood of land to John Fechale*, and ‘Scottfordbrige’ occurs in 1498/9.
There was evidently another bridge built in the parish as one rood of
land at ‘Newbrigge’ is listed in 1466/7. Associated holdings suggest that
Scotelfordbrige lay in the south field , so the surviving bridge may be known
as ‘Newbrigge’. It was therefore probably built sometime before the mid
15th century, and was certainly standing by the time of the 1566 survey of
Etonbury Manor which held land bounding the site.
* acres of ground boundinge of Saynt Andrews Chappell on the north east
and the stone bridge on the south west.

Phase 1
The original bridge is built from local sandstone and consists of two pointed
arches. Each has a span of 8ft 6in (2.6m) and carried a 12ft (3.7m) wide
roadway. There is a central pier 4ft 6in (1.4m) wide with triangular cutwaters
on both upstream and the downstream faces; this is an unusual feature in

6

|

March 2013

|

Downstream
Datestone

Bedfordshire, as other medieval bridges in the county had cutwaters to the
upstream face.
Datestones of 1683 on the downstream face and 1711 on the upstream
face refer to repairs. Every stone voussoir in both arch rings has been
refaced in brick, and the cutwaters heavily patched in both stone and brick.
When the bridge first appears in the Quarter Sessions records in 1807 it is
described as being “badly in need of repair”. The subsequent work included
the “Use of Pils (piles) and Planks and Bords for Stankin (damming) to Turn
the water to Repair the Bottom of the Bridge – £1 10s 0d, carriage of stone
from Rowni Pit (in Southill) – £1 2s 0d and 5 yards of Stone for Rocking the
Foundation of the bridge – 7s 6d”.

Text extracted from the Bridges of Bedfordshire by Angela Simco and Peter McKeague,

to advertise telephone: [phone] or go to the website: www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk