Culham Bridge, Abingdon
An extension to Abingdon Bridge, crossing the River Thames
Region:
Red Wheel Site:
Transport Mode(s):
Address:
The Bridge, Nag's Head Island, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3HX
Postcode:
Visitor Centre:
Website:
Visit website
Culham Bridge is an extension to Abingdon Bridge (see entry), crossing the Swift Ditch to complete the Thames crossing. In 1416-1422 the Abingdon Guild of the Holy Cross built Culham Bridge over the Thames between the village and Abingdon to carry the main road between Abingdon and Dorchester.
The whole structure was originally built in stone in 1416 (to replace an older one of timber) by a body known later as "The Brotherhood of Christ" (now Christ's Hospital), assisted by the wool and cloth merchants of the town.
Much of the original structure of the larger Abingdon Bridge remains, although the northern portion, consisting of seven small Gothic arches, has been altered and widened in the past, particularly in 1790. The southern portion consisted of five small Gothic arches and one larger elliptical one for navigation; this part has been reconstructed, and is faced with the old stones in an admirable manner.
The group of eighteenth century houses that stand on the island contribute largely to the charm of the bridge. The headway above normal water-level was 3.4 m (11 ft) previous to the rebuilding of the southern portion; the new bridge has headway of 4.3m (14 ft).
By road: On A415, which crosses the Thames over two bridges - Abingdon and Culham - on either side of an island.
Addison, Sir William, The Old Roads of England, Harper Collins, ISBN 0 7134 1714 5 (1980)
Albert, W., The Turnpike Road System in England, 1663- 1840, Cambridge University Press, ISBN O 5210 3391 8 (1972)
Harrison, David, The Bridges of Medieval England, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-922685-6 (2004)
Hindle, Paul, Roads and Tracks for Historians, Phillimore & Co, ISBN 1 86077 182 3 (2001)
Hindley, G., History of the Roads, Peter Davies, ISBN 0 8065 0290 8 (1971)
Jackson, Gibbard, From Track to Highway, Ivor Nicholson & Watson, ASIN: B001IN51MK (1935)
Jervoise, E., Ancient Bridges of th South of England, Architectural Press, ASIN: B00180LMYE (1930)
Sheldon, G., From Trackway to Turnpike, Oxford University Press, ASIN: B0026KBSZS (1928)
Taylor, C., Roads and Tracks of Britain, Littlehampton Book Services, ISBN 0 460 04329 3 (1979)
Thacker, Fred, The Thames Highway: Volume II - Locks and Weirs, David & Charles, ISBN-10: 0715342339 (1968)