Newsham Bridge Lincolnshire ~ A Visitors Guide
This morn saw your host breaking his fast whilst perusing an old Map of Lincolnshire, as one does, John Speed published in 1610, when suddenly mine eye spotteth sumfink !
Hello, what’s that then - Newsham Abbey - never heard of that - is it still extant ?
And so The Game was Afoot
I decided, although it goes against the grain, I should perhaps consult a slightly more up-to-date map. I’m never far away from a bottle of claret or an Ordnance Survey map of Lincolnshire and a good thing too !
Finally found it and it is now, sadly, simply earthworks - but as it’s within cycling distance twas a trip that had to be undertaken. and if it twere to be undertaken then better it were undertaken quickly (hope you’re spotting these)
Now, due to a rush of blood in the photography department, I’ve had to split this post. Finding this bridge was not even on the agenda and imagine my surprise just coming across it - quite staggering.
I knew absolutely nothing about it, not even its existence but it really is a magnificent piece of engineering and stonework.
Why this is so obscure is, once more, not only staggering but also criminal.
There is a Gargoyle here on the right just to show you an example of the outstanding detailing and carving.
I’ve struggled to get much information on Newsham Bridge. What I do know is that it was all part of the redevelopment of the Brocklesby Park Estate in the 18th century.
The job was carried out by the one and only Capability Brown !
The bridge was constructed to span the newly created Newsham Lake and I cannot over stress what a delight it was not only to find it out of the blue but also simply just to be there.
It should be noted that it is on Private Property, there are various public footpaths in the area but permission should be sought should you wish to retrace my steps
Newsham Bridge as Seen from the ‘Rear’
The above shows the scene from the rear of the approach. Some of these pictures are not quite as good as I would have liked because getting into position for a shot was tricky to say the least. That one is not bad though
The Aspect Seen on Approach
The above and below showed you the site I saw whilst looking for a mound in a field !
It’s pretty overgrown which made getting a shot here a pain in more ways than one - nettles you gotta love ‘em.
A Bit Nearer
An Archway Under One of the Bridge Spans
I managed to get to the base of the bridge and actually under the first span, as can be seen above it’s pretty impressive even in the underside detailing, stonemason really doing the business here.
The image below shows you the detailing above said archway
Stone Carving in Lincolnshire
This was an absolutely marvellous day, the sun shining and I spent 3.5 hours cycling, what more could you want (well some lemon juice actually but that’s another story).
A fabulous ancient architectural find, plenty of exercise and sunshine another great trip - more to come on this one as well.
Cracking !
Capably Yours
Rod
Femme Fatale said,
June 29, 2009 @ 10:22 pm
Rod,
Truly beautiful.
I wonder why these fabulous constructions that you manage to find, are not readily accessible?
FF
xx
Little Brother said,
June 29, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
Rod,
Another winner! Tip of the hat in your general direction etc. I truly believe bridges to be one of the most under appreciated of all our engineering feats.
LB
ps would you be able to reccommend a blog post which gives a ‘brief history of gargoyles’….?
Rod said,
June 30, 2009 @ 8:18 am
FF,
I think it’s because it’s Lincolnshire and we seem to hold ourheritage and assets with little or no regard.
I’ve seen plenty of ‘famous’ bridges that are not a pathc on this one.
Regards
Rod
Rod said,
June 30, 2009 @ 8:21 am
LB,
I just wish I could have got a better long shot but everything was too overgrown sadly.
I did read something about gargoyles recently, can’t quite remember where, but it was pretty thin stuff - I may need to write a more definitive guide myself
Cheers
Rod
David Wright said,
July 11, 2009 @ 10:42 am
Where do you get permission from to visit the bridge?
Rod said,
July 11, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Try the Brocklesby Park estate offices
dendro76 said,
August 24, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
Hi
Regarding the bridge and site! im currently carrying out an archaeological survey upon this site. there are many great features which one cannot see unless shown. there are many scatters of pottery around the area of the woodlands indicating that there has been occupation upon the site for at least 2000 years! would be glad to answer any questions you may have about this site! its my favoraite place in the whole of the country!!!
regards
rich
Rod said,
August 25, 2009 @ 7:59 am
Rich,
that is so interesting . . thanks for taking the time to comment and welcome to the site.
I would be interested to hear anything at all about the site and surrounding area.
It would be great to get it on the site that way preserved and easily accessed for the future.
I revisited the other week actually, it is fabulous spot
I’m really envious of what you’re doing Rich
All the best
Rod
chris keyworth said,
September 26, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
Evening Stoneman Rich,There are new things to add to the file, get in touch with me, Have you been digging recently on the site as i was down there last week and there was some fresh diggings recently done, did you do that disitation on Newhouse as i would love to have a read at some point regards
chris
chris keyworth said,
September 26, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
Just a quicky, Henry Rayment the old Land agent has now gone so permision for this site may be a bit easyer to obtain, i have it on good authority that the chap doing the job now is very aproachable and easy to get on with. a long over due breath of fresh air is what the Brocklesby park eastate needed about time…..
Regards
Chris
chris keyworth said,
September 26, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
Rod Check your Inbox Large File Inbound
chris keyworth said,
October 6, 2009 @ 11:42 am
Hi Rod
just been told that there is an excavation underway on the Abbey hopefully it is being professionally done, the info has come Third hand so not sure if there is anything in it at this moment in time until ive had a look at the weekend… i will let you know…
Rod said,
October 6, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Hi Chris,
that sounds interesting, very interesting indeed !
Hopefully some good info will come from it
All the best
Rod
chris keyworth said,
October 14, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
I went for a walk today in Newshams, im not kidding you, the place is seriously deteriating, the amount of Rubish in there now and the fires where people (kids) have been camping is the worst that ive ever seen, there is an excavation underway or there was should i say, i saw Stoneman Rick in there, he said he was filling in a hole, he also mentioned that Defra are on the site too, aparrently it has the biggest population of great crested newts in lincolnshire hummmm maybe, i brought this to the attention of the estate many years ago aswell as the human remains that where exposed in the wood when they were tree felling in there, he also mentioned about the earthworks to the west of the abbey as being civil war but i dont go along with that one it just dosn’t fit in with the grand scheme of things going on there, anyway im sure rich will update on here if he finds the time….
Regards
Chris
Rod said,
October 14, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
Hi Chris,
thanks for the update - I have to say I agree with you as well.
I was there revisiting a couple of months ago and noticed the rubbish - to emphasise the point there was a family their having a picnic and they had garbage strewn all over the place.
Hope to hear what they found, or found out, just as I hope to visit when the foliage has died down in the hope of some better photos
Thanks and Regards
Rod
Eve said,
October 30, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
Dear Rod,
I have just read your pages and it has made my day. Since buying my 1610 John Speede map I too have tried to find more information regarding Newsham Abbey, all to no avail. My only feedback was my husband who was raised in Habrough and played in the woods throughout his childhood. He talked about the bridge being in good condition and earthworks in the fields and the woods. We always wondered why the site was never studied as it seems to be of substantial size, and I am sure has a story to tell. Unfortunately my husband died last year so he never got to show me the bridge, I thought I would never see it so thank you very much for your lovely pictures, my husband described it perfectly. Good luck with all your future finds.
Eve
Rod said,
October 30, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
Hi Eve
many thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
Sorry to hear of your loss and pleased the pictures were of a least a little use to you.
I am aiming to get back there when the foliage has died off this winter and get some better shots so it’s worth returning.
Chris keyworth, stalwart contributor to the site, is very well versed in the area and I hope we’ll be able to bring more information and pictures about the whole area as and when possible Eve
Best Wishes
Rod
chris keyworth said,
October 30, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Rod i went for a wander round newsham yesterday with the dogs, the undergrowth has now all but gone as is the water in the lake so you should be able to get some pictures now..
eve what was your husbands names as I to was born and raised in Habrough, Newshams was my stomping ground too….
Regards
Chris
Rod said,
April 20, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
Update:
New picture taken of the bridge today - thought I’d share it
Taken fom the Woodland - Lake Side
History Hunter said,
April 20, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
Thats almost artistic Rod! Good pic
Rod said,
April 21, 2010 @ 7:02 am
HH,
many thanks
I try to be artistic - in fact I’ve artistic aspirations - if only I had artistic talent then who knows what could have happened
Best
Rod
Jed said,
April 25, 2010 @ 1:43 am
I do feel sorry for all of you who can only see this bridge as it is now and not how it was 35 years ago. It was then unvandalised and looked to be in pristine condition, besides a bit of carved grafity in the stone in the two small pathway arches. All the statues were perfect, the woods were free from litter and rubbish, the only rubbish around was mainly that of history and nature.
I spent many days down these woods camping near the bridge and at the old scout and guide house, reported to be haunted. We used to swim in the lake and fish in it and the beck, it was also a good place for taking a young lady for some privacy, there used to be flowers around the lake, marginals. I have not been back there for a good few years nowbut during the late 90’s used to walk my dogs from the bride to the old woodcutter’s cottage and around the fields.
I also spent time as a young lad wandering around the whole estate, even spying on those in the big house having tea on the lawn and going all the way to Limber to the mosoleum, most of the estate seems to have used the stone from the abbey, recycling you could say, or ignorance and self importance that the rich seem to have which has contributed to the demise of some of our history.
I will try and find my work on the abbey but don’t hold your breath as I have an ex to get past and get into my attic at my old house, I will try. I have some pictures/ screen shots which are food for thought on the abbey and it’s lay out and it’s position at it’s demise, I will go to thorton abbey and take some measurements to translate them onto the ground at newhouse and see how they fit in relation to the indicated site. Have you been to the camp at the covert near the chalk pits? the ground is raised on top of the hill and is familiar with a wooden enclosure, it is not far from the abbey as the crow flies.
Rod said,
April 25, 2010 @ 6:20 am
Jed,
I too wish I’d seen it years ago - perhaps when society in general had more respect for things - well they seemed less likely to mindlessly abuse things.
As to being haunted we’ve been onto that one Jed.
It would be fantastic if you could find your research Jed - it should not be left to waste.
Stalwart of the site Chris Keyworth has done a ton of research on it as well and it was him who first alerted me to it - not to mention helping with the information in these articles.
I’m sure he too would love to see what you’ve come up with - especially as it was done in a different time frame - who knows what’s been lost and found in the interim.
As to the camp Jed, would that be Yarborough Camp by any chance ?
If so it was fantastic - and once again I have Chris to thank for that one.
Where would I be without him you ask - still lost in the woods around Kirmington is the answer
Thanks again Jed - greatly appreciated
Regards
Rod
Jed said,
April 25, 2010 @ 12:03 pm
Yes it will be Yarborough camp, it is on my map as camp covert, best time to view is mid winter when all the nettles are gone and you can get a good view of the site. Why would it be called yarborough camp? the romans (if roman) were there many years before, there are roman ruins close by in kirmington, there is higher ground just a mile away, at Barnetby top, with a lot better view of the lower land. I always try to look at a site and look at the reasons for the structure, is there water, the view, isolation, other sites nearby, layouts of known similar sites for the period, ancient routes and I try to ignore some of those who believe because they are proffesionals they are right. The best way is to get on the site and get the feel of the land and imagine what it would be like at the time.
Rod said,
April 25, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
Jed,
I do exactly the same when I’m out and about - look at where I would settle - where would it make sense to do something - just forget about what’s here today and land rights etc.
What would a logical mind do now on a blank canvas - that’s almost sure to be what others did many hundreds of years ago.
Regards
Rod
Amiguru said,
April 25, 2010 @ 6:20 pm
“I do feel sorry for all of you who can only see this bridge as it is now and not how it was 35 years ago.”
As time went on I managed to save enough money to buy a half decent SLR camera and used to develope, enlarge and print my own pictures. Colour film was just becoming generally available by the early sixties but required far more accurate temperature control than I could achieve in a blacked out bathroom; (within ¼° fahrenheit I seem to recall), so I stuck to monochrome printing where the latitude was give or take five degrees!.
I would echo Jed’s sentiments and I can exactly reverse the digits to 53 years as I first recall visiting Newsham in either 1956 or 1957!
Perhaps I can remedy Jed’s sentiment as here are a couple of pictures I produced of Newsham Bridge and Lake in 1962 following a family picnic there. Of course we cycled there, (as did most people then), from Roxton, and I remember it as being absolutely idyllic as Jed says.
Copyright Neville Sisson
As you can see, the statues then still had their heads, and beards, and looked all the better for it! I didn’t have a telephoto lens at that point so no closeups I’m sorry to say. I think it was the seventies before I got a 400mm lens.
Copyright Neville Sisson
Thank goodness for modern digital cameras where processing costs and limitations of film length and speed no longer determine what and how many pictures we can take. We can all record in abundance what is left of the past and through Rod’s kind invitation hand it all on to those in the future who might be interested.
Rod said,
April 25, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
Neville,
wonderful !
Beautiful pictures - they look so atmospheric - I too the liberty of removing one of the heads and adding that full size as well - just so we can see it better. I’m very grateful unlike you, Jed and Chris I’ve never seen the heads.
Fabulous addition to the page Neville many thanks
All the best
Rod
History Hunter said,
April 25, 2010 @ 6:27 pm
Excellent ‘old’ photos Nev, just a pity the surrounding area was neglected in later years.
chris keyworth said,
April 25, 2010 @ 6:29 pm
Hat tipped to you Nev GREAT PHOTOS…
regards
chris
chris keyworth said,
April 25, 2010 @ 6:37 pm
Jed
perhaps you could help me with a sanitary issue ive been pondering over for some time now, when the scouts and guids where camping there where did they go to the toilet or more so where did the sewage waist go, this is not a fetish but a really good question as i believe it may have gone into the abbeys own drainage system if this is the case i may help me find the lost tunnels or even confirm one of the tunnels i know of as a sewer to the abbey..
as well i wood be quite interested to know more about the scouting activity in the area around newsham woods i remember seeing some old photos of the scouts in there but not sure where i saw them, i think it was my old friend and Archeaologist George Mccann showed me them he has passed away now and his collection from his excavations on the site has been lost more as the pitty
regards
chris…
chris keyworth said,
April 25, 2010 @ 7:10 pm
Nev
I am struggling with the first photo as to location as the tree line dosnt seem to fit with what i know, are wee looking across the back grass field or is it from east of the bridge looking towards the bridge…
regards
chris..
chris keyworth said,
April 25, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
also nice to see in the second photo the pumping house on the left in the trees….
regards
chris..
Jed said,
April 25, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
The scout house is about .81 of a mile wsw of the abbey, it was used for visiting oversea scouts and guides. my mates mother was a guide leader in the 40’s there and it was abandoned at one point due to the ” paranormal activity” there, in the mid seventies we started to renovate the place and were going to start reusing it, but the vandals stopped this. I don’t know if the lord owned it, it is now privately owned or occupied. There was a toilet in the woodcutters cottage near the abbey site. on a 1610 map it is clear that there were three abbeys along the beck, “Drain” it’s origin being keelby, i am sure this would be to do with water supply or removal, but the downstream would not like to get the waist of the upstream , thorton abbey gatehouse used the moat, there had to be water supply for the fish ponds. It would be good to work out all the water supply and removal, the beck level is about 7 metres below that of the abbey site.
chris keyworth said,
April 25, 2010 @ 8:14 pm
you lost me on that one Jed wsw of the abbey where do you think the abbey may be as i think we are on different locations give me it in relation to the pillar you spoke of that will put me about right was the toilet made of brick and how may toilets where in it if poss that will help tooo as i know of two toilet locations in the wood..
chris keyworth said,
April 25, 2010 @ 8:43 pm
Jed
think ive got you now on this one we are talking about a field with the remains of a building in it, if it is the one it has no bearing on the abbey but still an interesting feature which i never even concidered as the scout cam as it was to far away or so i thought TA 1250 1200, Rod if you remember when we went for a walk around newshams area i pointed this strange feature out in the middle of the field behind the quarry… i would still be interested in finding out more about the scouting activities here as the info is lost on it and i am sure there will be others out there that may remember it….
regards
chris…
Amiguru said,
April 25, 2010 @ 10:21 pm
Thanks to all for the compliments re the pictures.
It just shows doesn’t it how important even the most casual of shots could be in the future?
I have a series I took of ‘old’ features in Immingham in the early seventies specifically for posterity, most of which have now either disappeared or are radically changed. Examples are: Blossom Way shortly after the Railway Club was built before it was all sanitised; The Washdyke when it was still like a washdyke; Bill Kettlewell’s cottage before it was demolished; Green Lane when it was unmetalled and profuse with cow parsley and hawthorn blossom; Byron Thorndyke’s garage when it was all higgledy-piggledy with the old petrol pump outside; Roxton signalbox with the scarce somersault homeboard signal ‘pulled off’ and so on. I’ll post some of these as they become appropriate.
Chris, re the lake picture, it was an awful long time ago but my instinct is that it is taken from approximately TA13132 13289 and looking in the direction of magnetic north which is currently at that spot 3.4 degrees west of grid north. The bridge would be 177 yards away and just out of sight to the right of picture.
Next time you are there you can possibly confirm it by checking trees; there are two copper beeches at the far end of the lake, one of which I think can be seen behind the young trees in the picture; and the large cedar just left of centre should still be there as they grow to quite a size and are used extensively as feature trees on the estate. The young trees in the middle distance will of course now be mature after more than half a century! I can’t be certain what they are at this distance but have some of the characteristics of aspens.
Regards,
Neville
chris keyworth said,
April 25, 2010 @ 11:05 pm
Nev
thats what i was thinking however all the largest trees have now been felled about 10 years, at some cost to the Archeaology of the abbey as they felled the really big trees right on top of it smashing walls to smitherines, next time i am there i will try and replicate your photo and you will see how different it now all looks, all the trees on the left have now gone and the new trees on the oposit side of the lake are all gone too, its a crying shame loosing the really big trees around the abbey the estate manager wants locking up for it…
regards
chris
History Hunter said,
August 3, 2010 @ 6:50 pm
Good news. I was up there this afternoon with Stealth pooch and there was a group of adults and children who were undertaking a clean up of the area all in cahoots with Operation Lifestyle, and from what i could see they have done a fantastic job. I believe they are intending on returning to do further cleaning up. One thing i noticed since i last visited is that some yob has sprayed graffiti all over the far end of the bridge. Very unsightly. There are many words for the type of person who does damage like that, and none are suitable for this website.
Rod, look out for an email wending its way to you soon. Think you may be interested, and maybe even get a little excited.
Rod said,
August 3, 2010 @ 7:33 pm
HH,
refreshing to hear of the clear up but depressing to hear about the moron with the spray can.
I’d just love to see someone doing that . . .
Cheers
Rod
History Hunter said,
August 3, 2010 @ 8:20 pm
Yes it certainly would be interesting to see if the little oik, whos face would be the same colour as the paint, could run with the spraycan inserted deep within certain orifii!!!!!!
RButhnot said,
January 31, 2011 @ 9:57 am
The last time I was at Newsham’s (still pronounced Newsums in local speak btw), was a good thirty years ago.The lake had water in it and the reed beds between the Bridge and the road had a very extensive walkway for the benefit of the duck shooting. I see no sign of all that on GE, nor on your recent pictures. Maybe the latest Earl of Yarborough is not so much into his field sports. I’m definitely no fan of blood sports, but is the general neglect of this area not a practical example of how such country activities preserve the landscape that we enjoy?
Chris Keyworth said,
January 31, 2011 @ 10:26 am
i was in newsham wood again yesterday, lake is full again the swans are back, there has been a bit of a clean up in the lake this year the local scrap metal people have been in there and dragged out any metal of any value which while serving there purpose it certainly serves a better enviromental purpose, the jetty and walkway you refer to is still there RB however it is now pretty much distroyed but the nearby brick arch of the boathouse is still standing.
regards
chris
RButhnot said,
January 31, 2011 @ 10:34 am
They do say that Lincolnshire has a ‘magnetic’ attraction for former inhabitants. I’ve resisted this ‘pull’ so far and the the New Forest is a hell of a way from there but some of the things I’ve read on this website has got me itching to take the car up for a weekend.
Rod said,
January 31, 2011 @ 7:38 pm
RB,
if you do motor into Lincoolnshire let me know and I’ll make sure you’re not delayed at the border
Regards
Rod
EW said,
March 6, 2011 @ 10:36 pm
Hi Rod,
I’ve been in the neighbourhood for a few yrs and until today, never realised there was this magnificent looking bridge nearby. Thanks to your site I have been able to inform my children about some of the history. Unfortunately it is in a really sorry state, lots of graffiti, lakes full of dead reed and lots of rubbish, woodlands nearby are appalling glass, rubbish etc its such a shame for a naturally gorgeous area!
Rod said,
March 7, 2011 @ 8:25 am
EW,
thanks fo rhte comment and welcome to the site. It is a fabulous spot though as you say it’s a real shame to see the way it’s been treated - very sad indeed
Regards
Rod
John said,
May 1, 2011 @ 9:43 am
I remember swimming in this lake near the bridge around 35 years ago but haven’t been back since. We have family that works for the estate and there was talk a few years ago about the possibility of moving the bridge as part of the recent refurbishment of the hall and grounds.
It was suggested that the brige formed part of a new access and approcach to the hall over “the canal”. This would have been stunning, would have preserved the bridge and it could have been seen from the B1210.
Unfortunately it looks like the bridge will be left where it is in the middle of nowhere.
Rod said,
May 1, 2011 @ 10:38 am
Hi John,
thanks for the comment - really appreiated and welcome to the site - hope you’ll return
Regards
Rod
Chris Keyworth said,
May 1, 2011 @ 10:44 am
I think if they ever tryed moving the bridge it would have caused world war three quite littraly even if it was supossed to be for the better, people are very attached to it..
Regards
Chris
John Hunter said,
May 11, 2011 @ 12:49 pm
Great to come across this site, brought back childhood memories of the 50’s when it seemed most of Habrough walked down Newsham Lane along the field and across the ditch for a Sunday afternoon stroll.
Rod said,
May 11, 2011 @ 7:44 pm
Hi John,
pleased it brougt back some memories and thanks for taking the time to comment.
A warm welcome to the site and I hope you’ll return
Regards
Rod
Dave the Rave said,
May 18, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
I remember my friends and I cycling from Grimsby on many a weekend to Newsham Bridge. What a peaceful place. That was in my early teens. That must be about 50 years ago now. The lake was always full and we would swim in the buff.
(Both sexes)
I have been visting this site off and on for a while now and find it a mind of information. Thanks to everyone for their input. I am now learning a lot from this site about our local history.
I have a copy of Authur Mee’s Kings Lincilnshire which I always take with me when I go for a drive in around county.
Regards
Dave
Rod said,
May 19, 2011 @ 7:36 am
Hi Dave,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
You can’t do much better than driving around Lincolnshire accompanied by Arthur Mee - I’ve done it many a time !
Regards
Rod
Andrew said,
January 1, 2012 @ 8:20 am
Wet this evening walked the dogs looks rather a mess Graffiti rubbish everywhere but what a beautiful thing to have on your doorstep in a beautiful summer day what a place to picnic after a good clean up I work for singleton birch and am often walking around camp wood near the quarry deer badgers rabbits Harris hawks excellent and ferrel rabbits brown etc the badgers set is huge
Chris Keyworth said,
January 1, 2012 @ 11:19 am
Andrew
I agree totaly its a shame the place is in uch a state at the moment with all the tree felling going on but i have to say summer is definatly the best time of year to visit…
Regards
Chris,
Daniel said,
January 30, 2012 @ 3:02 pm
Is not a very well know bridge I don’t think I don’t live far from the bridge but haven’t been for years down there, will try and get down there when it drys up a bit.
Chris Keyworth said,
January 30, 2012 @ 4:04 pm
The Snow Drops are in full bloom in Newsham woods as i type this…
Regards
Chris…