Doctor Fleming's Bridge, Bottesford

This stone pack-horse bridge from c.1605 crosses the River Devon at the end of Church Street, Bottesford. It provides access from the village centre to the parish church and churchyard. It also connects the village to the old road to Allington, which also forded the river at this point. Legend has it that Rector Samuel Fleming had it contructed after he fell from his horse while fording the stream.

Creator

Bottesford Village School

Date of creation

1936

Date of coverage

1934-1936

Place

Bottesford, Leicestershire

Contributor

Bottesford Local History Society (BLHS)

Reference number

BOT/193/010

This catalogue record comes from: Bottesford Local History Archive

Comments about this page

Reply
Surely upper section is approx. 1600c but the lower arches are similar to those of 14th century. Can someone comment on this please.
By Graham Long (23/01/2017)
Reply
Hello Graham, That’s an interesting point. The information about its being built ‘by’ the Rector, Samuel Fleming, in the early part of the 1600s comes from Nichols’ History of Leicestershire (1795), and we have never questioned what he said. Perhaps the solution would be to compare the bridge with others known to have been built about this time (and in the 1300s). Do you have some examples in mind? With best regards, Neil Fortey (ed)
By Neil Fortey (23/01/2017)