Rey Bridge, Lacock

Rey Bridge carries the lane through Reybridge, a hamlet just north of Lacock, over the River Avon on four stone arches. Historic England dates it to the early to mid eighteenth century and lists it Grade II, and two dates cut into its stones, 1691 and 1745, hint at an older crossing rebuilt.

History

The Avon divides Lacock from Reybridge, and the bridge is the hamlet's link to the village. It was once more than that: Wiltshire Council's community history says that for several centuries the London to Bath road came over Naish Hill and crossed the river here, and that Reybridge was the only bridge across the Avon in the area until the seventeenth century, when a new bridge near the abbey brought the road off Bowden Hill and into Lacock's High Street instead. The listing places the present bridge in the early to mid eighteenth century, which fits the inscription WW 1745 on one of its upstream piers. The arch next to it appears to have 1691 carved on its underside, so part of the bridge may be older than the rest, or the stone may have been reused; the listing records the date as an apparent reading only. The listing does not say who WW was.

The CPRE Wiltshire walk leaflet says the fields beyond the bridge were Lacock's industrial quarter in the eighteenth century, with spinning, weaving, chair-making, tanning and hurdle-making. East of the hamlet, the line of the Wilts & Berks Canal, opened in 1810, passed close by; Towpath Talk reported in May 2023 that the length towards Reybridge was still unrestored, with the rewatered stretch beginning further north-east at Double Bridge.

What to see

Look at the bridge from the bank on the upstream side. It is built of ashlar on four segmental arches, flatter than a semicircle, standing on thin piers with cutwaters on the upstream face to split the current. A raised band runs under the parapet, and the parapet itself has raised piers above the river piers. The inscription WW 1745 is on one of the upstream piers; the 1691 date is on the soffit of the arch beside it, so you need to look up from the bank to find it.

Visiting

Rey Bridge is a public road bridge, free and open at any time. It carries traffic, and we could not confirm a separate footway, so walkers share the carriageway; take care, and keep dogs close. OpenStreetMap mappers note that the road over the bridge can flood after heavy rain, and that it carries a 7.5-tonne weight limit.

Getting there

From Lacock church, the lane runs north out of the village to Reybridge, about 600m away. Park in the National Trust car park on Hither Way (SN15 2LG), free to members, and walk through the village past St Cyriac's and over the packhorse bridge. The nearest stations are Melksham, about 3.5 miles from Lacock by road, and Chippenham, about 4.5 miles; the Faresaver X34 bus between Chippenham and Melksham stops in Lacock, including at the Reybridge turn.

Nearby

Downstream and east of the village, the road to Bowden Hill crosses the river on the older Lacock Bridge, which has medieval origins. Beyond Reybridge, the field paths lead east towards the Wilts & Berks Canal. Back in the village, St Cyriac's Church, Lacock Abbey and the pubs, The George Inn and The Red Lion, are all within a short walk.