Bridges have been a fundamental element of our communications network since the Roman period. We use the expression ‘building bridges’ to explain how people should resolve their differences. This metaphor is a reminder that bridges are much more than just an easy and safe way to cross dangerous or deep rivers – they are a timeless reminder of how communities have come together to tackle problems of infrastructure and technological development. This book, commissioned by Northamptonshire County Council, was researched, lavishly illustrated and produced by the Museum of London Archaeology. It documents the history of 104 bridges within Northamptonshire considered to be of architectural or archaeological interest. Of these bridges, all but one are listed structures (see below), which was the criteria for their inclusion.

The Nene bridges of this land-locked county featured in one of Jervoise’s books on English and Welsh bridges (Reference Jervoise1932, 72–81) and some examples are mentioned in the Northamptonshire volume of the Buildings of England series (Bailey et al Reference Bailey, Pevsner and Cherry2013), but Spanning the Centuries is the first comprehensive survey of the subject. The ‘span’ of this work is impressive: it starts with the Roman bridge abutment at Aldwincle (the only vanished structure), illustrated by a new reconstruction, then goes on to describe the county’s fifteen surviving medieval bridges and then its notable post-medieval examples. The latter class is subdivided into canal (forty examples), ornamental (twenty examples), road and rail bridges. All the medieval and later bridges are illustrated by at least two (often four) splendid colour photographs, including a number of detailed views of arches, coping stones, carvings, etc. National Grid References, dimensions and Listed Buildings data are provided for every example. Each bridge has several hundreds of words of text describing its history (very important for the medieval bridges spanning the River Nene that were frequently washed away by floods, so have complex structural histories) and the present structure. Details such as the presence of medieval chapels or crosses are noted – reminders that, until the English Reformation, bridge building was pious charitable work. Each section has an introduction to put its bridges into a social and economic context, such as why and when the canals and railways were constructed. My only criticism of the text is the absence of any linkage with the bibliography.

I hope that the publication of this volume will encourage other counties to consider producing similar surveys of their own historic bridges, as it offers a good template.