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The Old Roman Bridge or the Essex Bridge?

This drawing can be found in “The Midland Counties’ Railway Companion”, which was was published in 1840.

Mountsorrel 1840
Mountsorrel 1840

The artist was a Mr Palmer, but where was he when he drew this?

Is this the bridge known locally as “The Old Roman Bridge”, which is reached by walking along ” The Old Slash”?  The position is about right and if Mr Palmer got off the train at Barrow,the quickest way to Mountsorrel would have been along the Old Slash. But although the two bridges look similar, the disposition of the arches is not the same.

Mountsorrel 1840
Mountsorrel 1840
The Old Roman Bridge
The Old Roman Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further investigation reveals that in recent years the Old Roman Bridge has been modified following a complaint that it was unsafe, so it cannot be the one in the 1840 drawing.The drawing below shows the bridge as it was a few years ago
NWA_023

So perhaps the bridge in the drawing was where the ‘Essex bridge’ now stands, in Sileby Road, over a branch of the River Soar. The position is about right.

 

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