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News & Media > Highway Services

25:03:2010

Rebuilding an 'Ancient Monument' In West Sussex

May Gurney has recently completed a restoration project to rebuild a 500-year-old bridge on the River Rother, on behalf of West Sussex County Council.

Durford Bridge, a ‘Scheduled Ancient Monument’ near Rogate in West Sussex, provides a vital link between local villages.

Heavy rainfall on 3 December 2009 caused a wall adjacent to the bridge to collapse, undermining the road and making it unsafe.

The restoration project team comprised all West Sussex Highways alliance members, English Heritage and the council’s heritage and archaelogical team. English Heritage advised on the design, construction work and materials.

Local materials were sourced for the restoration, including sandstone from Cowdray Estate in Midhurst which was used to clad the reinforced wall. The rebuilt wall also benefis from concrete reinforcements to help prevent a similar collapse in the future.

Drainage improvements to the road were undertaken at the same time as this was identified as a contributing factor to the collapsed wall. The road was reopened on 12 February.

Will Green, West Sussex County Council structures’ team leader, said: "Many thanks to all parties for their quick and helpful action in dealing with this emergency repair.

“The speed in completing this repair in no way detracted from the quality of design or workmanship, which was superb in all respects.

“There were also constraints associated with the Christmas holiday season and the cold and snowy weather, but the commitment from all involved to complete the repair and open the road as soon as possible could not be faulted.

“This is just one example of the many fine schemes that the structures team undertakes. Well done all."

Click here to read more about May Gurney's work in partnership with West Sussex County Council.