| Description | Hump backed gritstone bridge of three arches. Probably constructed during the first half of the 16th century, since which time it has been heavily repaired and rebuilt. All three arches are round headed. The N and central arches are above the river, while the S arch is dry and has a paved walkway beneath it. Two cut waters on either face reach to the top of the parapet. The parapet walls are about 1.0m high, and the distance between them widens out on the approaches to the bridge. The roadway is ca. 2.00m wide. The road surface over the bridge is paved with sets; passage is now restricted to foot traffic. Over three of the cut waters are triangular pedestrian refuges, built into the parapet walls. There are commemorative plaques of several periods on various parts of the bridge.
The bridge is both a scheduled monument (Old County No. WY53 and List Entry No. 1005795) and a listed structure (List Entry No. 1228914).
The scheduled monument description (amended 1987) is as follows:
This bridge in the centre of the town has been several times severely damaged or washed away by floods. It is of stone. The present structure dates mainly from the 18th century but is of great interest on account of several dated and inscribed tablets built into it, recording various rebuildings or repairs.
Stone bridge of three arches no longer accessible to traffic. Roadway about 7ft wide. Round arches, single chamfer no ribs, pointed piers with corresponding bays on bridge parapet walway. Two repair stones visible dated 1602 and 1637.
The Old Bridge at Hebden is built of gritstone and has three plain rounded arches, two of which are over the river, the centre one taking most of the water. The southern arch is dry and has a paved footway beneath it. There are two cutwaters on either side which reach the tops of the parapets. THe parapets walls are about 3.5ft high and widen out on the approaches. The surface of the road over the bridge is paved with sets. It is humped backed so would not be suitable for vehicles which would be grounded on the top. Originally it was open to traffic but it is now blocked off by bollards. Over three of the cutwaters are triangular pedestrian refuges. An iron handrail has been fixed to the parapet on the upstream side. There are a number of commemorative plaques on various parts of the bridge stating that it was repaired in 1600, 1602, 1657, 1845, and 1890. The main plaque states: 'Hebden Old Bridge. Erected circa AD 1510, replacing a medieval bridge in timber. Many repairs were necessary in 1602 and 1657 and the parapet was repaired in 1845 and 1890. The eastern arch of the bridge spans the tail gait of Bridge Mill, originally the manorial corn mill of Wadsworth'.
The listing description (amended 1984) is as follows:
Packhorse bridge, c.1510. Has plaques recording repairs of 1600, 1602 and 1657. The parapet was repaired in 1845 and raised in 1890. Of large dressed stone. Three segmental arches the voussoirs chamfered with two pointed breakwaters rising the full height of the parapet to the south west. Similar to north east but one is capped off at keystone level where a wall abuts. Three inscribed date plaques: REPAYRED: BY TH E.RIDINGE: BY ORD REPAIRED BY HELP OF ER: OF SESSIONS (B) Y GVST : 1657 RICHARD : NALER Y R.G.R.G. SESSIONS 1602 REPAIRED BY HELP OF JOHN : GREENMOOD SESSIONS 1600
The land arch to the east bank originally served the tail goit of Bridge Mill, once the Manorial Corn Mill. |