English wayfaring life in the middle ages : (xivth century) / by J. J. Jusserand ; tr. from the French by Lucy Toulmin Smith.
- Jean Jules Jusserand
- Date:
- 1899
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: English wayfaring life in the middle ages : (xivth century) / by J. J. Jusserand ; tr. from the French by Lucy Toulmin Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![superintend the works of London Bridge seems to have been an exceptional fact. The making of ordinary bridges was usually entrusted to local artists or masons ; and it would have been strange indeed if the people who could build such splendid cathedral naves all over England had been at a loss to span rivers with bridges. One of the few indentures for the making of a bridge which have come down to us concerns the re-building of Catterick bridge, Yorkshire, in 1422, on the great Roman road, the Ermine Street; this document is curious in many respects. The contract binds several authorities on the one hand, and “ Tho. Ampilforde, John Garette, and Robert Maunselle, masons,” on the other. It is stated in it “ yat ye foresaides Tho., John, and Rob., schalle make a brigge of stane oure (over) ye water of Swalle atte Catrik be twix ye old stane brigge and ye new brigge of tree (of wood), quilke forsaid brigge, with ye grace of God, salle be made sufficiant [and war]kmanly in mason craft accordand in substance to Barnacastelle brigge, aftir ye ground and ye watyr accordes, of twa pilers, twa land stathes (abutments), ■and thre arches.” The deed goes on to give a very minute account of the way in which every part of the work will have to be performed, of the material that will be used, and of the time when the bridge must be entirely finished and open to circulation: “ And ye saides John, Tho., and Rob., schalle this forsaid brigge sufficiantly in masoncraft make and fully per- furnist in all partiez and holy endyd be ye Fest of Seint Michille ye Arcangelle quilk y‘ shalle tall in ye yere ot our Lorde Gode Mle ccccxxv.” It is understood besides that they will receive in payment, at certain](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24879502_0062.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
