NHER 5485 (Building record) - Littleport Street Bridge

Late medieval with 17th to 18th century widening.
E. Rose (NAU).

See Ancient Monuments Form in file (S1).

The modern road bridge over the Gaywood River incorporates extensive remains of at least two medieval bridges in its substructure. These comprise: Two round arches of stone with three faced courses; two round arches of early brick with brick and stone out-waters and upper buttresses. Much restoration is evident and an early key-stone is in situ but uninscribed. The earlier bridge has a width of approximately 4m, the later approximately 5.5m so about one-third of width of the modern structure.
A 13th century map (possibly in King's Lynn Library) notes 'drawbridge', presumably referring to the East Gate. If this is correct a tentative 14th century date can be attributed to the earlier structure, contemporary with the Town Wall.
Information from (S2).
R.J. Rickett (NAU), 27 March 1990, amended A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 10 June 2019.

August 2003. Site visit.
Listed (Grade II) as early 16th century, extended in 20th century, see (S3).
Bridge consists of two arches; that crossing water has outer stone rings and a brick soffit - not possible to approach closely enough to date brickwork, or to judge whether stonework is 14th century as schedule, or 16th century as (S3). Western arch over dry land has several stone arch rings throughout. On east, bridge approached by causeway of post medieval bricks. On each side or original bridge are footbridges of brick arches with keystones; these have horizontal skintlings and so are post 1760s and not 17th/18th century as (S2) suggests. The northern carries an iron pipe beneath. Shown on (S4) as separated from main bridge by parapets, these have now gone. (S3) does not mention these. Outermost are concrete footbridges 20th century.
E. Rose (NLA), 19 August 2003.