'The Fairest Arch in England' Old Ouse Bridge, York, and Its Buildings : the Pictorial Evidence

The first bridge to span the River Ouse in York was built by the Romans. Then, and in the medieval period, the river remained an essential lifeline of communication, an important facilitator for transport and trade and a place to obtain drinking water. This supplementary volume to The Archaeology of York series looks at bridges past and present, though focusing primarily on the Tudor bridge built in 1565 and dismantled from 1810-1818. Although almost no archaeological evidence for the bridge survives, the imminent destruction of the bridge meant that artists were keen to capture this particular river view before it was lost forever. This volume discusses and describes the history of the Ouse crossings, the construction and form of the Tudor bridge and its associated buildings and waterfront and includes a gazetteer of illustrative material.