Dow Bridge is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. NEWTON AND BIGGIN WATLING STREET (A5) SP 57 NW 8/59 Dow Bridge - II Road bridge (now disused) carrying Watling Street over the River Avon. An 1838 partial rebuild of an earlier bridge (probably C18). Tooled coursed ashlar. Chamfered coping. 6 elliptically headed arches; the arch to the NW has a keystone carrying the date 'W.P. 1838'. The 2 NW arches almost completely rebuilt in 1838 (perhaps retaining the earlier cutwater), but considerable sections of an earlier bridge survive (built of rougher coursed masonry), especially at the SE end. The road level has been built up to the level of the parapet coping. A1722 engraving of an earlier bridge is to be found in Warwickshire Record Office
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Etching by William Stukeley dated 1722 of Dove Bridge where it was suggested that the Roman Station of Tripontium be located.
This image is contained in the book Itinerarium Curiosum - By William Stukeley was published. Page 94 contains the picture of 'Dow Bridg'. Itinerarium Curiosum or an Account of the Antiquities & Remarkable Curiosities in Nature or Art, Observed in Travels Thro' Great Britian (1724) with Stonehenge A Temple Restor'd to the British Druids (1740) & Abury, A Temple of the British Druids (1743). First Edition sold for £2500 at christies April 2008. vol I p.112 describes the river splitting in two with a bridge over each
Etching by Samuel Ireland dated February 1795 of Dove Bridge. Picture is detailed on page 48 of his book titled 'Picturesque Views on the Upper, or Warwickshire Avon'. Details bridge was built 20 years since by order of the commissioners for the Turnpike-road leading from Lutterworth to Banbury. Also says the large stone was taken from the old bridge and positioned on the centre arch. Also describes previous roman bridge as two bridges one for foot passengers and one for carriages and speculates about a third bridge (Based on the name of the station Tripontium meaning 3 bridges)
Etching of 'Dow Bridge' by Barak Longmate del. & sc. This was used in John Nichols book on Leicestershire p.81
Etching 1807-1810 - Dow Bridge - Stone Marking intersection of three counties located on bridge. You can just make out the names.
Dove Bridge - In state of dissrepair from this picture can summise where the Three Shires Stone must have been located...
Dow Bridge - Oldest photo to date circa 1900's...This is the oldest found photo to date looking towards where new bridge should be. There are no signs modern A5 bridge constructed in 1930's. No damage to side walls and the wooden railings look in good order.
Looking north of the A5 at the inadequetly narrow bridge over the River Avon, part of Roman Watling Street.
Dow Bridge as of 2009 intersecting the modern A5 Dow Bridge. You can see where the width changes during re-build around 1838
Pictures courtesy of ScottABones