This fine relic of antiquity was doomed to destruction in the year 1808; its foundations were razed fourteen years afterwards, and a light single-arched iron bridge erected on its site,----a temporary bridge of boats being placed at the bottom of Smith's-lane, from the commencement of the undertaking until its completion.

In the preamble to the act of parliament, which authorised the great waste of money attendant on the demolition of this venerable structure, it is described as being "very ancient and decayed, and from the violence of the floods is so much injured as to be dangerous to travellers, carriages and cattle passing over the same." True indeed it is, that this neglected edifice was in a dilapidated state, but it is equally true, that bit might have been so perfectly restored; at a comparatively small expense, that it would have withstood the destructive hand of time for many centuries.

It may have been urged, by the advocates for its removal, that its appearance was unsightly: to some of the improvers of the present day, this massive monument of olden times must have been displeasing, but to the antiquary it was a much more interesting object than the present structure: it was situated too in a somewaht unfrequented part of the town, where it was rarely seen except by those connected with the navigation of the rivers, and therefore the plea of its being "old and ugly" ought not have been suffered to outweigh other more important considerations.

There is no record to show when this ancient bridge was erected: as it stood on the artificial branch of the river Avon, it may be conjectured to have been built by the Duke of Clarence, brother to Edward IV. when he made a new channel for the river,----which served the double purpose of defence to the town, and a stream for the mill belonging to the abbey.

The bridge consisted of two bulky stone piers,---one of them jutting out from the eastern bank of the river, having a plain pointed arched opening; and the other from the western bank, the arch of which was semi-circular: there was an open space between them, flanked by two substantial angular buttresses, through which barges and and other vessels were accustomed to pass. Upon these piers, and over the intermediate opening, a strong framing of timber was placed, upon which the road was made, having a wooden railing on each side. The engraving, on the preceding page, will afford a good idea of the elevation of the north-east portion of this interesting structure.

The pointed arch, in the eastern pier, was of the form used about the middle of the fifteenth century, and was in good preservation; that in the western pier was perhaps, originally built uniform with the other, but from being more exposed to the current of the stream, it might have been, at a later period, so much damaged as to require renovation, and then the pointed arch probably gave place to a circular one. This alteration might have been made in 1592, for in the corporation books, under that date, is the following entry: " the stone work of the key-bridge was repaired, and the bridge new railed, which cost 9l,----four of which was raised by voluntary contribution, and the remainder paid for by the chamber."

Adjoining the soth-east corner of the present bridge, there are still some remains of the wing-wall of the former structure, rising from the bed of the river, and now forming the foundation of a house. The material with which this wall is formed, is the same as was chiefly used in the erection of the old bridge, being a soft red stone; and similar also to that which appears in the exterior of Worcester Cathedral, and in the tower of the church of Upton-upon-Severn.

Present Bridge may be pulled down by Trustees, and a temporary Bridge erected till the new Bridge, to be built under this Act , is completed.

L.

         And be it further enacted, That if any Person or Persons shall wilfully blow up, pull down or destroy the present Bridge or the said temporary Bridge , or the said new Bridge , or any Pier or Piers, Arch or Arches thereof, or any Part or Parts thereof , or the Toll Houses or Toll Gates, Side Bafrs or Chains erected or set up to be erected or set upon or near the said Bridges, or any of them, or any of the Works, Buildings, or Erections made in pursuance of this Act, or cause or procure or direct the same to be done, every Person so offending on being convicted thereof shall be deemed guilty of Felony, and the Court before whom such Person shall be tried and convicted, shall have Power and Authority to cause such Person or Persons to be transported for the Term of Seven Years, or may in Mitigation of such Punishment pronounce such Sentence as Law directs in Cases of Petit larceny.