Monks Bridge, Medieval road bridge in Stretton and Egginton, England.
Monks Bridge is a medieval stone structure spanning the River Dove and connecting Stretton in Staffordshire to Egginton in Derbyshire. The construction features four arches with triangular bastions at the piers that strengthen its design.
The structure was built mainly in the 15th century, replacing an earlier 13th-century bridge that was maintained by Burton Abbey. The original was known as Egginton Bridge before taking its current name.
The name comes from the monks who maintained it for centuries and collected donations from travelers for upkeep. You can still sense how this structure served as a vital link between communities on either side of the river.
You can walk across to see the stone arches and river scenery up close, since pedestrians still have access to the structure. Vehicles have not been permitted to cross since 2014, but there is plenty of room for visitors to move around freely.
In 1394, a small chapel was built directly on the bridge to collect donations from travelers for maintenance costs. This unusual arrangement shows how medieval communities found creative ways to fund repairs.
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