Spon Bridge is a bridge carrying
Spon Street
Spon Street (sometimes referred to as Historic Spon Street or Medieval Spon Street) is an historic street in central Coventry, in the West Midlands of England. The street was once part of a route that ran from Gosford to Birmingham – a route ...
across the
River Sherbourne
The River Sherbourne is a river that flows under the centre of the city of Coventry, in the West Midlands, in England.
The source of the river is in the fields near Hawkes End in the parish of Allesley. It flows for about 8 miles or 13 km ...
in
Coventry
Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...
, central England.
Description and history
Spon Street
Spon Street (sometimes referred to as Historic Spon Street or Medieval Spon Street) is an historic street in central Coventry, in the West Midlands of England. The street was once part of a route that ran from Gosford to Birmingham – a route ...
is one of the oldest remaining streets in the centre of Coventry and the site of many historic buildings, some of which were relocated there from elsewhere in the city during post-war redevelopment. The bridge consists of three stone arches. It is known to have been standing since the 13th century but was heavily rebuilt in 1771. Some of the stone for the bridge is believed to have come from Spon Gate, part of
Coventry's historic city walls, which was among several of the city gates demolished in the late 18th century because they were impeding trade in and out of the city centre as the city grew. Other rumours suggest that the bridge contains stonework from
Coventry's market cross.
In the middle ages, Spon Street was part of the main east-west route through Coventry and the suburb of Spon, which grew up immediately west of the city walls. Spon's boundaries were marked by Spon Gate in the east and Spon Bridge in the west, beyond which was a
leper colony
A leper colony, also known by many other names, is an isolated community for the quarantining and treatment of lepers, people suffering from leprosy. '' M. leprae'', the bacterium responsible for leprosy, is believed to have spread from East Af ...
, later a hospital with a chapel. Spon Bridge was one of three medieval bridges carrying the route over the
River Sherbourne
The River Sherbourne is a river that flows under the centre of the city of Coventry, in the West Midlands, in England.
The source of the river is in the fields near Hawkes End in the parish of Allesley. It flows for about 8 miles or 13 km ...
. The surrounding area was a wooded valley in the 12th century. There are records of the bridge being surrounded by houses by 1411.
Edwyn Jervoise, in ''The Ancient Bridges of Wales & Western England'' notes a three-arch stone bridge over the Sherbourne.
The bridge is built from sandstone and consists of five bays, flanked by plain columns. has been a grade II
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
since 1955. It forms a group with the various other listed buildings on Spon Street.
References
{{reflist
Bridges in Coventry
Grade II listed bridges
13th-century establishments in England