DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6913#0140
76
architectural antiquities.
The Triangular Bridge has always been considered a subject of curiosity,
depending more upon the singularity of its form than upon any difficulty in its con-
struction, or beauty in its architecture.* No records are extant which enable us to
discover under what abbot it was erected: taking its style, therefore, as a guide, we
can only assign its building to the fourteenth century generally, at a period between
the years 1303 and 1378.
The situation of this bridge is on the west side of the abbey, at the confluence of
three streams ; the Welland, the Nyne, and Catwater, or Catchwater-drain, which
unite under it, and proceed hence through Spalding to the German Ocean. The
banks of each stream are occupied by the houses of the town, which are elevated
considerably above the level of the adjacent lands. It consists of three arches rising
from three several segments of a circle, each arch having three ribs, and the whole
meeting in one centre. The forms of these arches are preserved externally, ren-
dering its ascent and descent impracticable for carriages, and inconvenient for horses.
At the south-west angle is placed a statue crowned, holding a globe in the right
hand. The figure is much defaced, but these attributes are still visible.
The origin and intention of the founder in the erection of this bridge are involved
in obscurity. Although the present structure has no claim to a higher antiquity
than the time of the first or second Edward, a similar structure existed as early as
the year 943 ; for in a charter of Edred describing the boundaries of the abbey, an
allusion is made to it under the title pons de Croyland triangularis. If the statue
above mentioned represents the founder, Ethelbald, (and to whom can it with
greater propriety be attributed?) a bridge of a similar form must have been coeval
with the foundation of the monastery. This opinion will not be invalidated by the
assertion of Willis, that it represents St. Guthlac,f a tradition derived from the
common people, upon which as little reliance is to be placed, as on that respecting
the dimensions of the church. Even Camden J has gravely related the story of a
mighty and fathomless pit existing beneath the centre of the bridge to receive the
flood of the three waters, a story derived from a similar source, and of which two
senses alone are sufficient to prove the fallacy.
* In the annexed view, the draftsman has left out some houses on the right hand of the bridge, in order to
shew the ruins of the abbey church in the distance. J.B.
t Mitred Abbies, Vol. I. X Britannia, 1607, p. 399-
architectural antiquities.
The Triangular Bridge has always been considered a subject of curiosity,
depending more upon the singularity of its form than upon any difficulty in its con-
struction, or beauty in its architecture.* No records are extant which enable us to
discover under what abbot it was erected: taking its style, therefore, as a guide, we
can only assign its building to the fourteenth century generally, at a period between
the years 1303 and 1378.
The situation of this bridge is on the west side of the abbey, at the confluence of
three streams ; the Welland, the Nyne, and Catwater, or Catchwater-drain, which
unite under it, and proceed hence through Spalding to the German Ocean. The
banks of each stream are occupied by the houses of the town, which are elevated
considerably above the level of the adjacent lands. It consists of three arches rising
from three several segments of a circle, each arch having three ribs, and the whole
meeting in one centre. The forms of these arches are preserved externally, ren-
dering its ascent and descent impracticable for carriages, and inconvenient for horses.
At the south-west angle is placed a statue crowned, holding a globe in the right
hand. The figure is much defaced, but these attributes are still visible.
The origin and intention of the founder in the erection of this bridge are involved
in obscurity. Although the present structure has no claim to a higher antiquity
than the time of the first or second Edward, a similar structure existed as early as
the year 943 ; for in a charter of Edred describing the boundaries of the abbey, an
allusion is made to it under the title pons de Croyland triangularis. If the statue
above mentioned represents the founder, Ethelbald, (and to whom can it with
greater propriety be attributed?) a bridge of a similar form must have been coeval
with the foundation of the monastery. This opinion will not be invalidated by the
assertion of Willis, that it represents St. Guthlac,f a tradition derived from the
common people, upon which as little reliance is to be placed, as on that respecting
the dimensions of the church. Even Camden J has gravely related the story of a
mighty and fathomless pit existing beneath the centre of the bridge to receive the
flood of the three waters, a story derived from a similar source, and of which two
senses alone are sufficient to prove the fallacy.
* In the annexed view, the draftsman has left out some houses on the right hand of the bridge, in order to
shew the ruins of the abbey church in the distance. J.B.
t Mitred Abbies, Vol. I. X Britannia, 1607, p. 399-