Listed Building record MDR9906 - Whatstandwell Bridge, Alderwasley and Crich

Type and Period (1)

  • (Georgian to 21st Century - 1796 AD to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Whatstandwell Bridge, Alderwasley and Crich, built in 1796 over site of 15th century bridge. Dressed gritstone bridge with three main arches to span the river, with two supports in the river itself. On either side two smaller arches span across the flood plain of the river to higher sides of the valley. There is a reference to a bridge built about 1390 by John de Stepul at a ford across the River Derwent, near the house of Walter Stonewell. Toll gate and bridge improvements were carried out by the Nottingham-Newhaven Turnpike Trust about 1776. The present bridge was built in 1795 and paid for by the Duke of Devonshire, the earlier one having been washed away. The bridge was the only crossing of the river between Ambergate and Cromford. (1) The history of the name 'Whatstandwell' and River crossing is well documented. In 1390 John de Stepul agreed with the Abbot of Darley to build a bridge over the Derwent near to a house belonging to Darley Abbey, and the house was defined as that tenanted by Walter Stonewell, hence the later corruption to 'What-standwell'. (2) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF ALDERWASLEY WHATSTANDWELL SK 35 SW 2/13 Whatstandwell Bridge GV II Road bridge. Dated 1796. Triple arched bridge of ashlar gritstone with semi- circular arches rising from semi-circular cutwaters with domed heads. Broad band to arch heads, with parapet of massive ashlar above. Pilaster strips rise from cutwarer heads and are expressed in the parapet. At either end of the ashlar bridge, arched approaches of coursed rubble gritstone, with lower parapets coped with half round copings. See also CRICH Parish. Listing NGR: SK3311354365.' (3)

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Index: Mansel Architects. 2004. Cromford Canal Survey. Survey ref: 95.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Morris, M (Mel Morris Conservation). 2005. Summaries of Historic Transport Networks in the Derwent Valley World Heitage Site. 2.
  • <3> Listed Building File: Historic England. 2011. The National Heritage List for England. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1335351.

Map

Location

Grid reference SK 33113 54365 (point)
Civil Parish ALDERWASLEY, AMBER VALLEY, DERBYSHIRE
Civil Parish CRICH, AMBER VALLEY, DERBYSHIRE
World Heritage Site Derwent Valley Mills

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • EDR1807

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External Links (0)

Record last edited

Aug 20 2023 9:01PM

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