Listed Building record MDO13022 - Gosling's Bridge, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis

Bridge of uncertain date; said to be seventeenth century. Faced with blue lias ashlar and with red brick. Surmounted by painted brick piers with stuccoed capping and by iron railings; probably nineteenth century. Two arches. Left hand span with roughly two centred arch; span to right of footpath with gently curved arch.

A bridge carrying Coombe Street over the Buddle river about 250 yards WNW of the Parish Church. It has one semi-circular span, and is ashlar faced. It was built probably in the 17th century but has been widened on both sides. About 110 yards to the North is another bridge of similar character and between them the river-channel has stone revetments (1)

Five phases of construction, widening and rebuilding were identified during strengthening works on the bridge in 2003. the earliest surviving structure is the span across the mill leat, built of blue lias. This may be medieval in date, contemporary with the building of the leat and Town Mill. The main span is constructed from greensand and probably dates to the 17th century when it was rebuilt following demolition in the Civil War. (2) The latest phase is related to repairs following severe flood damage in 1890. (2)

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), p150 (Monograph). SDO97.

<2> Davis, B and Rous, M, 2003, Gosling Bridge, Lyme Regis, Dorset. Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SDO10805.

<3> Gardiner, J, 2003, Lyme Regis: Gosling's Bridge. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO10806.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 11:37AM