Untitled - Council for British Archaeology

The bridge figures in the 1606 plan made by Thomas Langdon (Corpus
Christi College) Maps 912 La Vol. Bl and shows 4 stone built
arches by the river and four more widely, spaced arches to deal with
the flood water in the valley. We acknowledge the gift of a number
of photographs taken by Mr. J. Andrew of County Suryeyors Department.
RADCOT BRIDGE (PRN 2646) (SU. 28554940) - Brenden Grimley, John Steane
A measured survey was made of this bridge.probably 14th century, and
reputedly the oldest bridge over the Thames s(Toynbee m.k. Oxoniensia
XIV (1949) 46-52. The 2 outer arches are sharply pointed; there
are signs that the central arch, 4-centred, is a later alteration.
ABINGDON OCK BRIDGE (PRN 2661) (SU. 48839691)
A measured survey was made of this bridge by John Steane and
the 6th form of John Masons School Abingdon while it was under
reconstruction. The bridge is apparently,of at least five, building
phases. The second arch from the south on the east side is semicircular
and has a barrel vault with thitk mortar and flaggy masonry.
J. Blair of Brasenose College compares it with Norman masonry at
Frewin Hall, Oxford (Oxoniensia, XLIII, 1978 p. 50) It is possible
that this arch was part of the bridge that Abbot Faritius' walked over
on his appointment to the abbey (Chronicon Monasteria de Abingdon,
Roll Series, 1858, II 286). Five of the other arches are later
medieval in date. The centre one has groined vaulting ribs. The
bridge was enlarged in the 18th century with semi-circular arches
on the west and again in 1979-80. Care has been taken to match the
old and new work.
LONG WITTENHAM PILLBOX (PRN 11899) (SU 57019382) and, BAMPTON PILLBOX
(PRN 11928) (SP/33250031) - Lisa Brown, John "Steane
Surveys were made of two types of pillboxes, erected in 1940 along
the GHQ stop line which ran along the Thames through Oxfordshire.
The Long Wittenham One is a concrete and brick anti-tank gun
emplacement with rifle slits in the inner room. It faces west
over the river Thames and like its companion (PRN 8777)'sis on the Iron
Age promontory fortress of Dyke\Hills. The Bampton pillbcw lies
to the north of the Thames. It is of a small hexagonal plan and
controls the Tadpole Bridge and Bampton-Buckland Road (see P.R.O.
W.O. 199,36, 1779).