Stamford Bridge (Replacement And Tolls) Act 1724
In the Roman period, the River Derwent could be crossed near the fort of Derventio by a ford. The first bridge in the area is believed to have been built during the existence of the Kingdom of Northumbria, a narrow, timber structure, which may have been on the site of the ford, or about 160 yards (150 m) downstream. The next record of a bridge is in 1280, on the downstream site, and this is probably the same structure described in 1581 as having stone piers supporting a timber bridge.
| Stamford Bridge (Replacement and Tolls) Act 1724 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to enable the Justices of the Peace for the East Riding of the County of York to take down the County Bridge, called Stanford Bridge; and to build a Stone Bridge, at a more convenient Place, over the River Darwent, in the said Riding, instead thereof. |
| Citation | 11 Geo. 1. c. 10 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 March 1725 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1950 |
Status: Repealed | |
In 1727, a new bridge was constructed, a further 160 yards (150 m) downstream, where the river is narrower but deeper. It was designed by William Etty. It is built of stone, with three arches: a wider central arch, and narrower north and south arches which are usually dry. There are narrow refuges, formerly for pedestrians, and a stone parapet.
In 1765, the road became a turnpike, and it was tolled until 1812. Its southern span was widened in the 19th century. It has been grade II* listed since 1952, and was formerly also a scheduled ancient monument. The bridge now carries the A166 road, from York to Bridlington. In 1967, a steel footbridge was constructed alongside the road bridge.
The bridge was damaged after a number of traffic strikes and was closed for a number of weeks in 2024 to undergo repairs to the stone parapets. Traffic bollards were also installed to prevent further collisions.
References
- ^ A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 3, Ouse and Derwent Wapentake, and Part of Harthill Wapentake. London: Victoria County History. 1976. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ Historic England. "Bridge over River Derwent (1346426)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ Shoesmith, Kevin (12 July 2024). "Historical bridge reopens after repairs". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2024.