Box Brunel Bridge Awarded New National Listing Varian Tye May 2021
I wrote an article in the June 2020 edition of Box People and Places, Two Box Underbridges: Forgotten Brunel Bridges.
This outlined the importance of Brunel's forgotten masterpieces when he created bridges over the By Brook, and under the railway embankments, to allow the construction of the Great Western Railway in the parish of Box. One underbridge can be viewed on the north side of The Rec from the Lovar Walk and the public right of way which crosses it. At the time I wrote the article, the underbridge was not listed but, on reflection, I decided to apply to Historic England for it to be added to the statutory list of historic sites needing to be protected.
Applying for a Listing
Before doing so, I briefly looked through the statutory list for the parish of Box, available on the Historic England website. It appeared that the majority of listed buildings in Box were originally listed in 1960 and 1985. Brunel’s Box and Middlehill Tunnel portals were listed in 1985 and since that date additions have been a rarity. I wondered if they would add the building to the statutory list bearing in mind it is now 2021.
Historic England has a web site link on How to Get Historic Buildings of Sites Protected Through Listing.[1] Anybody can apply for a building to be protected through the listing system by completing an online application form with information about items such as photographs, historic maps and documented research reports. As part of my research, I contacted Network Rail Archives who kindly supplied me with original contract drawings for the bridge, below.
This outlined the importance of Brunel's forgotten masterpieces when he created bridges over the By Brook, and under the railway embankments, to allow the construction of the Great Western Railway in the parish of Box. One underbridge can be viewed on the north side of The Rec from the Lovar Walk and the public right of way which crosses it. At the time I wrote the article, the underbridge was not listed but, on reflection, I decided to apply to Historic England for it to be added to the statutory list of historic sites needing to be protected.
Applying for a Listing
Before doing so, I briefly looked through the statutory list for the parish of Box, available on the Historic England website. It appeared that the majority of listed buildings in Box were originally listed in 1960 and 1985. Brunel’s Box and Middlehill Tunnel portals were listed in 1985 and since that date additions have been a rarity. I wondered if they would add the building to the statutory list bearing in mind it is now 2021.
Historic England has a web site link on How to Get Historic Buildings of Sites Protected Through Listing.[1] Anybody can apply for a building to be protected through the listing system by completing an online application form with information about items such as photographs, historic maps and documented research reports. As part of my research, I contacted Network Rail Archives who kindly supplied me with original contract drawings for the bridge, below.
Original drawing for underbridge (courtesy Network Rail Archive)
Outcome
Historic England agreed that the underbridge merited listing and recommended to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Sport and Media that it be listed Grade II. This was agreed in 2021. The listing marks and celebrates buildings of special architectural and historic interest. It also brings it under consideration of the planning system, so that it can be protected for future generations. In summary the bridge, named By Brook Culvert in the list description, was listed for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest
Historic interest
For a fuller description of the importance of the GWR and the underbridge please refer to the listed building description in the following link: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1473562
Historic England agreed that the underbridge merited listing and recommended to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Sport and Media that it be listed Grade II. This was agreed in 2021. The listing marks and celebrates buildings of special architectural and historic interest. It also brings it under consideration of the planning system, so that it can be protected for future generations. In summary the bridge, named By Brook Culvert in the list description, was listed for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest
- As an early example of a railway structure dating from the pioneering phase in national railway development;
- An example of a culver or underbridge that survives unusually well from the earliest phase of the Great Western Railway;
- An architectural treatment on structures of this type is unusual and, in this case the impressive rusticated voussoirs on the south side with raked abutments and coping remain unaltered since construction.
Historic interest
- It is constructed to a design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel who is widely perceived as one of the most important transport engineers and architects of the 19th century.
For a fuller description of the importance of the GWR and the underbridge please refer to the listed building description in the following link: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1473562
The Site
Box Parish Council are restoring and enhancing Lovar Walk as part of a management plan for the area. Some of the works have received a Caring for the Cotswolds Grant from the Cotswolds National Landscape. It is intended to have an interpretation board for the bridge and a seat installed overlooking the attractive brook and bridge, both funded by the grant. Future plans hope to reinstate a new pedestrian bridge which will restore the important link between the pond and the historic path over the bridge which then takes you into open countryside. Attractive views over to the By Brook and the historic bridge will no doubt also be viewed from the new pedestrian bridge.
So, the underbridge is no longer a forgotten Brunel structure - its significance finally and rightly recognised by its listing and plans for the Lovar Walk area. The parish of Box is fortunate to have a number of heritage assets, whether they are in the form of designated Conservation Areas, such as Box, Ashley, Middlehill and Ditteridge, listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest such as the Brunel’s railway structures or those buildings or features which are not listed but still of some merit and of local interest, such as the former quarryman’s cottages at Fairmead View and remains of old surface quarries and quarry entrances as at Clift Quarry and in Quarry Woods. The parish of Box is a special place. If you believe a building in the parish should be listed and wish to take the matter further please refer to the Historic England website below for guidance.
Box Parish Council are restoring and enhancing Lovar Walk as part of a management plan for the area. Some of the works have received a Caring for the Cotswolds Grant from the Cotswolds National Landscape. It is intended to have an interpretation board for the bridge and a seat installed overlooking the attractive brook and bridge, both funded by the grant. Future plans hope to reinstate a new pedestrian bridge which will restore the important link between the pond and the historic path over the bridge which then takes you into open countryside. Attractive views over to the By Brook and the historic bridge will no doubt also be viewed from the new pedestrian bridge.
So, the underbridge is no longer a forgotten Brunel structure - its significance finally and rightly recognised by its listing and plans for the Lovar Walk area. The parish of Box is fortunate to have a number of heritage assets, whether they are in the form of designated Conservation Areas, such as Box, Ashley, Middlehill and Ditteridge, listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest such as the Brunel’s railway structures or those buildings or features which are not listed but still of some merit and of local interest, such as the former quarryman’s cottages at Fairmead View and remains of old surface quarries and quarry entrances as at Clift Quarry and in Quarry Woods. The parish of Box is a special place. If you believe a building in the parish should be listed and wish to take the matter further please refer to the Historic England website below for guidance.