Roman Road Bridge, Ermin Street, Stratton St Margaret

Image: © Vieve Forward Taken: 22 Mar 2013

Roman Road Bridge (MLN 17508) is a Grade II Listed skew road overbridge with a single semi-circular arch, constructed c.1839-40 to carry Ermin Street across a Great Western Railway cutting (see also Image]). It is well worth reading the listing text http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-1409198-roman-road-bridge-mln17508-stratton-st- to set this bridge in the context of the history of the Great Western line from London to Bristol and of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s involvement in its design. Roman Road Bridge is the first stone bridge encountered when travelling west from London. It carries a road on the alignment of Ermin Street, the major Roman road from Gloucester (Glevum) to Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum). The form of the bridge is unique on the line, with a semi-circular arch springing almost from rail level built on a skew angle of 25 degrees with quarry-faced elevations of Swindon Portland stone and originally a classical tablet motif in the centre of each parapet. It is possible that Brunel took his inspiration for the design and its classical vocabulary from the Roman origins of the road which it carried (the Romans invented the arch, and semi-circular arches are characteristic of their viaducts and bridges). This stretch of the line was never quadrupled and so the bridge has not been extended. However, in the 20th century the parapets, soffits and some patches were refaced in purple engineering brick. A number of tie rods were also inserted. The importance of this bridge can be gauged by the statement in the listing that “were the original design to survive completely, a higher grade would be warranted”. When Roman Road Bridge was constructed it was in open countryside. Today the setting has been engulfed by the suburban spread of Swindon New Town.

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