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Looking down the River Witham past The Grade II Listed Brush Factory and Attached Warehouse towards the Grade I Listed High Bridge carrying the High Street over the River Witham in Lincoln.

 

It is the oldest bridge in the United Kingdom which still has buildings on it. It was built about 1160, in 1235 the Chapel of St Thomas (dedicated to Thomas Becket) was built on the eastside of it, this was removed in 1762 and the still existing row of shops were built sometime before 1550.

 

Bridges like this were common in the Middle Ages, the best known being London Bridge, but most have long since been demolished because of their obstruction to the river flow and to shipping.

 

The Glory Hole is the name given by generations of boaters to the High Bridge in Lincoln. It has a narrow and crooked arch which sets a limit on the size of boats travelling from Brayford Pool / Fossdyke Canal on towards Boston and the sea.

 

Since the 14th Century the bridge has contributed to floods in Lincoln and after any heavy rain the bridge is virtually unnavigable, which may be why it got its name. A design by William Jessop in the 19th century to reroute the waters of the Witham through the south of the town was never implemented.

 

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Uploaded on January 18, 2020
Taken on February 3, 2015