St Ives Bridge

The fifteenth century St Ives Bridge across the fast-flowing River Great Ouse in St Ives, Cambridgeshire is famous for incorporating a chapel. This is a rare phenomenon — there are only two other bridge-chapels in England, both in Yorkshire.

The St Ives settlement was developed extensively by the monks of Ramsey Abbey, and they built the town's first bridge, a wooden structure, in 1107. The present structure results from their decision in 1414 to construct a stone arch bridge, which they completed in 1425, adding the chapel in 1426. The bridge has undergone significant modifications since. It is now Grade I listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The bridge is unusual in another way - as can be clearly seen from the Quay and the photograph, the two southern arches are a different shape from the rest of the bridge, rounded in form instead of being slightly gothic. They were rebuilt in this shape after Oliver Cromwell blew them up in the English Civil War to prevent King Charles I's troops approaching London from the Royalist base in Lincolnshire. During the war and for some period afterwards, the gap was covered with a drawbridge.

The chapel was restored in 1930, having previously served as a toll house, inn and as a private residence. It had originally been designed as a chapel, though, and dedicated by the monks to Saint Leger. By 1736 it was being used as accommodation, and in that year two extra floors were added. These lasted into the early 20th century before being removed as part of the restoration work. As a result of this, the roof is modern. An unusual feature is the crypt, about two metres above the river's water level.

External links

* [http://www.stives-town.info/album/st_ives_bridge.htm Photographs exploring the Chapel] , and showing the previous extra floors.
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/411438 Night picture of the bridge and Chapel] , newly floodlighted in 2002/3.
* [http://www.thegiddings.org.uk/giddensimages/siwrap2html/sipan2.html Panoramic view from the bridge]
* [http://www.waterscape.com/servicesdirectory/S/St_Ives_Town_Bridge.html Information] provided by British Waterways
* [http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/bridges/policy/bridge+maintenance+policy+-+inspection+and+maintenance.htm Bridge maintenance policy]
* See also Old Bridge, Huntingdon, 6 miles up-stream.