Chap. VIII.

BRITAIN.

413

remain* entombed within the structure; and as all great bridges were provided with achapel and crypt, every means was afforded for the performance of the annual rites that wereusually instituted. The great bridge at Avignon , when built by S. Benezet, or JohannesBenedictus, the first brother and founder of the order, had such a chapel, where he wasburied in 1222.

At the death of Peter of Colechurch, the work was not delayed; another brother, of thename of Isembert, master of the fraternity at Xaintes, and who had recently completedbridges at that place and Rochelle, was appointed to carry it on ; in a few years the bridgeand its chapel were entirely completed; the latter he endowed with two priests and fourclerks, constantly to perform service therein. The chapel was dedicated to St. Thomas ofCanterbury , and contained a table, on which were inscribed the names of all the lands andgifts given for its support.

This stone bridge was 926 feet in length, 15 feet in width, and 60 feet in height abovethe level of the water. It contained a drawbridge, and nineteen broad pointed arches, withmassive piers, varying in solidity from 25 to 34 feet, raised upon strong elm piles, coveredwith thick planks, bolted together.

The breadth of the first arch on the city side was 10 feet, the second 15, the third 25, thefourth 21, the fifth 27, the sixth 29 feet 6 inches, the seventh the same, the eighth 26 feet,the ninth 32 feet 9 inches, the tenth 25 feet 6 inches, the eleventh 16 feet, the twelfth24 feet 6 inches, the thirteenth 25 feet 8 inches, and the breadth of the drawbridge, orfourteenth arch, 29 feet 4 inches. The breadth of the chapel which stood on the centrepier was 20 feet, and its length 60. Mr. George Vertue engraved this bridge and itsstately chapel and crypt, and published them in 1748 j after his death his widow presentedthe plates to the Society of Antiquaries .

The water-way between the piers was not more than 336 feet 9 inches, and if we makesome allowance for the footings or increased size of some of the starlings, we shall find thatnearly tw'o-thirds of the stream was occupied by piers, and only one-third allowed forwater-way.

When the bridge was demolished, the tomb of Peter of Colechurch was found eml>eddedin the tenth pier from the city side; it was 7 feet in length, 30 inches wide, and 24 inheight; it was also discovered that the piers were formed upon piles driven into the bed ofthe river, cut ofF at low water-mark, with a filling in between the heads of stone and chalk :on the top of’the piles blocks of Kentish rag were bedded in pitch.

The Traitor’s Gate, at the north end, was built about 1426; in 1437 the great stone gate,on the Southwark side, fell into the river, and according to Stowe destroyed two of thearches adjoining. /

Monnou Bridge , over the river of that name, where it joins the Wye at Monmouth, as itexisted some years ago, was a fine example of a fortified bridge; the arches were constructedmuch in the same manner as the severy or division of a cathedral church ; ribs were framed

Fig. 413. MONNOU BRIDGE.

lr kiu.ii:.i

from one abutment to the other; after they were gathered over, and united at the top ofthe vault, the spaces between were filled in with masonry; the whole bore some resem-