Harrold
Bridges
Places > Harrold > Bridges
There has been a bridge at Harrold since at least the 1140s. Historically four of the river arches were maintained by the Lords of the Manor of the neighbouring parishes of Odell, Harrold, Carlton and Chellington. The remaining arches were the responsibility of the County, which took over the last three private arches in 1930.
The bridge was built almost entirely from local limestone, only one arch is in dressed limestone and brick was used in places during the 19th century widening. The present bridge is much altered from the originally medieval work having been widened on two occasions and repaired on many more. In response to the ever-increasing traffic of the industrial age the whole bridge was widened in 1857.
Sources:
- The Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library.
- SIMCO, A. & McKeague, P. Bridges of Bedfordshire. 1997
Harrold Bridge, by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2012
Page last updated: 28th January 2014