Bibliography - Edwyn Jervoise A.M., Inst.C.E. (1884 - 1955)
Bibliography Home

Publications

The Ancient Bridges of the South of England, by E. Jervoise, published 1930 (xvi + 128 pp., London: Architectural Press) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Review by G. Forrester Scott in Sussex Notes & Queries, November 1930:
Modern road traffic has struck heavily at our ancient bridges: in response to demands for greater strength and width the engineer is dealing destruction to one of the greatest charms of the English highway. M. Jervoise's book is invaluable both as a call to save what remains by timely and conservative repair, and as a record of treasures which may soon succumb to the needs of "progressive" travel. It describes notable bridges in the counties south of the Thames, with the exception of Cornwall and Devon, which are dealt with elsewhere. With the help of the many excellent photographs here reproduced we are able to realise the wealth of fine mediaeval bridges still doing their duty in sound condition and with little alteration from their original design. Among these the examples at Aylesford in Kent, New Bridge on the Upper Thames, Stanton Drew and Wyke Champflower in Somerset, and Coombe-Basset in Wiltshire are especially noteworthy. Of later date, down to the close of the eighteenth century, when brick first made its appearance in bridge-building, are Redbridge on the Test, Pill on the Yeo, Sonning on the Thames and Corsham on the Bristol Avon. Sussex, it must be confessed, makes a poor showing in comparison with some of the western shires. Its streams are neither many nor large, and its bridge-architecture lacks in general the grand manner. There are few instances even approaching the length or the beauty of the noble seven arches at Stopham. The eastern Rother and the Ouse show little of interest, beyond the brick bridges at Robertsbridge and Bodiam, and the stone one at Newenden, built, as a tablet in the parapet records, jointly by the counties of Sussex and Kent in 1706. A stone bridge at Uckfield was destroyed in 1859. In West Sussex several mediaeval or Tudor bridges were rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries, including those at Bramber, Greatham, Houghton and Arundel; there are survivals at Durford, Trotton, Woolbeding Fittleworth and Habin. Stopham is probably not earlier than the middle of the 16th century. Sussex can show few historical records concerning its old bridges, or traces of bequests or pontages. A MS. describing the Arun bridges early in the 17th century has been edited by Mr. Joseph Fowler, M.A., and in the Act of 27 Elizabeth and the Turnpike Act of 1696 there are references to the subject.
While Sussex archaeologists should use all their powers to protect the few fine specimens of ancient work which the county contains, they should not neglect even the humblest. In many cases little bridges over minor streams, picturesque if only of Georgian dullness, have been replaced by hideous contrivances of the County Council in raw concrete or of insolent brick with gas-pipe parapets. Such a book as that before us ought to quicken the inertia of public opinion towards the defence of one of the most characteristic charms of our English landscape.