Bottesford Living History Project | Places | Landmarks | Bottesford Bridges

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Bottesford Bridges

A survey in pictures

By Peggy Topps

Bottesford stands on the River Devon (pronounced 'deven'), which rises in the hills south of the village and flows approximately northwards until it enters the Trent south of Newark. The village stands where north-south and east-west routes cross the river, originally by means of one or more fords, two of which remain today although one is crossed by a shallow road bridge which is flooded only infrequently.

These pictures show a series of bridges which carry roads, railways and farm tracks across the river. The oldest was built in the 17th Century by Dr Samuel Fleming, Rector of Bottesford. The newest bridge was built in 1989 to carry the A52 Bottesford bye-pass over it. This bridge is situated where you turn off the A52 from Grantham to enter into Bottesford.

The bridge to the west of the village goes over the River Devon and carries the railway from Nottingham to Grantham.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

Photo:Moving upstream, the next bridge known locally as Catfish Bridge used to carry the railway lines that branched off the Grantham line to Newark and Leicester. This track was put down in 1860 and closed in 1960.

Moving upstream, the next bridge known locally as Catfish Bridge used to carry the railway lines that branched off the Grantham line to Newark and Leicester. This track was put down in 1860 and closed in 1960.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

The next bridge is a farm bridge at the end of Pinfold Lane adjacent to Rectory Farm.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

Further along is a small footbridge that leads from Riverside Close across to Devon Farm.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

At the end of Albert Street there is another small bridge that also leads to Devon Farm.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

We then have The Green footbridge and only surviving ford.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

Photo:The next bridge is a low level one near the west end of the church, which carries the road to Newark. This floods on a regular basis due to the fact that it carries a number of small tunnels, which often get blocked with twigs and leaves floating down the river.

The next bridge is a low level one near the west end of the church, which carries the road to Newark. This floods on a regular basis due to the fact that it carries a number of small tunnels, which often get blocked with twigs and leaves floating down the river.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

Photo:Alongside this is a wooden footbridge. The river then winds around the church perimeter. Some 70 yards upstream there used to be a footbridge connecting The Rectory grounds with the church but this was removed when The Rectory was sold for development on the 1980s.

Alongside this is a wooden footbridge. The river then winds around the church perimeter. Some 70 yards upstream there used to be a footbridge connecting The Rectory grounds with the church but this was removed when The Rectory was sold for development on the 1980s.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

Photo:We now come to the Packhorse Bridge or Dr. Fleming's bridge, possibly the prettiest in the village. This was built in 1590 by Dr. Fleming, rector of Bottesford. One day, while trying to cross the river to church when the river was in flood, he had to be rescued. As a debt of gratitude he had the bridge built.

We now come to the Packhorse Bridge or Dr. Fleming's bridge, possibly the prettiest in the village. This was built in 1590 by Dr. Fleming, rector of Bottesford. One day, while trying to cross the river to church when the river was in flood, he had to be rescued. As a debt of gratitude he had the bridge built.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

Photo:The final bridge at the east end of the village is a large concrete structure that straddles the old A52. This was built in the 1930s when the road was re-aligned.

The final bridge at the east end of the village is a large concrete structure that straddles the old A52. This was built in the 1930s when the road was re-aligned.

Photo by Peggy Topps, 2006.

Photo:The Three Arch Bridge, built in 1860, stood in the fields to the North of the village. It spanned the River Devon and the railway line which once ran between Newark and Leicester.

The Three Arch Bridge, built in 1860, stood in the fields to the North of the village. It spanned the River Devon and the railway line which once ran between Newark and Leicester.

Photo by Peggy Topps

Sadly after the heavy rains of June 2007 the bridge collapsed.

Photo by Neil Fortey

The replacement '3 Arch Bridge' now just spanning the River Devon - somewhat lacking the architectural presence of the old bridge!

Photograph by David Middleton

This page was added by Peggy Topps on 20/02/2007.

Comments about this page

Arthur Marsden (a veteran of WW 1 and long term resident of Bottesford) used to recall that he watched Council workmen putting in the culvert piped low bridge at the ford by the Church on Normanton Road. The workmen were advised by local residents that the pipes would not take the volume of water through the ford. This was borne out when the River Devon suddenly rose just as they were completing the project and washed away tools they had left on the road during their lunch break.

By David Middleton
On 03/03/2007

As long time visitors to Bottesford we were delighted to see all the bridges in Bottesford, many of which we did know existed. The photograhs by Peggy Topps are very professional and a credit to her skills.
Clive Norris. 27/4/2007.

By Mr. and Mrs. Clive Norris.
On 01/05/2007

These pictures bring back so many happy memories of my childhood in Bottesford. Our cottage was on Church St next to The Six Bells and our friends the Bonds and have spent hours paddling in the streams and catching minnows!

By Brenda Turier (nee Sellers)
On 05/05/2007

Thank you for your comments. Please do contact us if you have any photographs of Bottesford and the cottages in Church Street you might like to have added to the site.

By David Middleton
On 05/05/2007

My wife and I have visited our friends Eric and Brenda Turier of Nottingham in the past. Brenda likes to mention Bottesford as that is where she had her childhood. We will make it a point to visit next time we are around as it looks to be quite an enchanting place.

By Victor Camilleri -- Gozo, Malta.
On 06/05/2007

What a wonderful surprise it was to read that our dear Gozitan friends Victor and Guza Camilleri had added a comment! I have told them so much about Bottesford and I have promised them that when they visit us again we will bring them over.
Brenda Turier (nee Sellers)

By Brenda Turier (nee Sellers)
On 12/06/2007

Congratulations on a great website and to Peggy for such terrific photos. Mart and I remember seeing some of these bridges, especially Dr. Fleming's bridge. We enjoyed the stories Peter and Peggy told us about the bridge immensely.

By Georgia Cavanaugh
On 08/08/2007

What a brilliant sequence of photographs and their accompanying commentaries. There are bridges here that I have never even seen - but I will do as I now plan to have another day there and take some of my own photographs. Many thanks for sharing these with us all.

By John Carter
On 22/12/2007