{{Short description|Bridge in Norwich, England}} {{Use British English|date=September 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Fye Bridge | image = File:Norwich - panoramio (19).jpg | caption = Fye Bridge in 2011 | coordinates = {{coord|52.632909|N|1.297218|E|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | os_grid_reference = TG 23221 09010 | carries = Fye Bridge Street | crosses = River Wensum | location = Norwich, England | upstream = Blackfriars Bridge | downstream = Whitefriars Bridge | material = Brick and stone | built = 1933 | references = <ref name="historicengland" /> | embedded = {{Designation list |embed=yes |designation1=Grade II Listed Building |designation1_date=5 June 1972| designation1_number =1025090}} }} '''Fye Bridge''' is a grade II listed brick and stone double-arched bridge over the River Wensum in Norwich, England, carrying Fye Bridge Street,<ref name="historicengland">{{Cite web |title=FYE BRIDGE, Non Civil Parish - 1025090 |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1025090 |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=Historic England |language=en}}</ref> and at the end of Wensum Street.<ref name="pevsner">{{Cite book |last=Pevsner |first=Nikolaus |title=Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East |last2=Wilson |first2=Bill |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2002 |isbn=9780300096071 |pages=279}}</ref> It is a historically important thoroughfare, connecting the north and south of the city, and is likely the oldest surviving bridge site in Norwich,<ref name="heritageexplorer">{{Cite web |title=Fyebridge, Fyebridge Street |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF62 |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=Norfolk Heritage Explorer}}</ref> Bishop Bridge being the oldest one still standing in the city.<ref name="pevsner" />

The bridge likely began in the mid-10th century as a timber causeway, though actual documentary references to the site date back to 1141. A stone bridge was built on the site around 1400 and then rebuilt in 1573. It was the site of the market cross known as Stump Cross, a pillory and a ducking stool in the 17th century. Fye Bridge was replaced with an iron bridge in 1829, and then again in 1933 with the current brick bridge.

== History == There is evidence of a timber causeway at the site, which likely dates back to the mid-10th century. There is also evidence of a mid-channel bar on the riverbed which would have assisted the construction of such a crossing. At this time, the crossing was on the principal north-to-south route through Tombland and past St Clement's church, suggesting that the crossing was of early importance. The crossing was protected on both sides by enclosed settlements.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ayers |first=Brian |date=2011-01-26 |title=The growth of an urban landscape: recent research in early medieval Norwich: Recent research in early medieval Norwich |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0254.2010.00312.x |journal=Early Medieval Europe |language=en |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=62–90 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-0254.2010.00312.x|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The ground was a peaty bog with gravel, and as such the roadway leading to the causeway, extending north to Fishergate and south to Elm Hill, was planked during this period. The first reference to a bridge on this site is in 1141,<ref name="heritageexplorer" /> and the earliest record of a bridge there dates back to 1283.<ref name="mcfetrich">{{Cite book |last=McFetrich |first=David |title=An Encyclopaedia of British Bridges |date=2019 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |isbn=978-1-5267-5296-3 |location=Newburyport}}</ref> The bridge remained as timber over the medieval period.<ref name="heritageexplorer" />

In about 1400 a two-arched stone bridge was built.<ref name="mcfetrich" /> This bridge is depicted on William Cuningham's map of Norwich drawn up in 1558.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Norwich since 1550 |date=2004 |publisher=Hambledon & London |isbn=978-1-85285-450-8 |editor-last=Rawcliffe |editor-first=Carole |location=London; New York |editor-last2=Wilson |editor-first2=Richard |editor-last3=Clark |editor-first3=Christine|page=6}}</ref> It suffered flood damage and was rebuilt in 1573.<ref name="mcfetrich" />

During the 17th century, Fye Bridge was the main thoroughfare linking northern and southern Norwich across the river, and was adjacent to the fish market, bringing high footfall. Next to the pillory at Fye Bridge was one of two ducking stools that are known to have existed in the city, the other being Jack's Pit.<ref name=":0" /> On a "‘sabbothe daye morninge" in 1600, Norwich servant Prudence Murrell saw John Buckingham "and two fellowes" pick up the Fye Bridge ducking stool and throw it into the river.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Griffiths |first=Paul |title=Information, Institutions, and Local Government in England, 1550-1700: Turning Inside |date=21 March 2024 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191918735 |pages=157 |chapter=Punishment |doi=10.1093/oso/9780192896261.003.0004}}</ref> Margaret Crookhill, who had called Merable Church a witch and had narrowly avoided the cage in 1628, was threatened with a ducking at this stool if more complaints were made against her. On the bridge was situated a stone market cross known as Stump Cross, until it was demolished in 1644. Another woman, Mary Clay, was ducked three times there in 1670.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Williamson |first=Fiona |title=Social Relations and Urban Space: Norwich, 1600–1700 |date= |publisher=Boydell Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-84383-945-3 |series=Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History |location=Woodbridge |pages=78–79 |language=en}}</ref> The west side of the bridge featured a fortified gate until 1791.<ref name="heritageexplorer" />

[[File:John Thirtle - Fye Bridge, Norwich - B1977.14.5368 - Yale Center for British Art.jpg|thumb|upright|A drawing of the stone Fye Bridge by John Thirtle (1777–1839)|left]] In 1820 for the proclamation of George IV, the procession crossed the bridge.<ref name="harrison">{{Cite book |last=Harrison |first=Mark |title=Crowds and History: Mass Phenomena in English Towns, 1790–1835 |date=2002-06-20 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521520133 |pages=162–164 |language=en}}</ref> County Surveyor Francis Stone designed an iron bridge for the location, which replaced the previous bridge in 1829.<ref name="mcfetrich" /> This bridge saw the procession for the proclamation of William IV in 1830.<ref name="harrison" /> This bridge was widened in 1921<ref name="heritageexplorer" /> or 1929.<ref name="pevsner" />

In 1933, the current bridge was built,<ref name="mcfetrich" /> along the lines of the original medieval bridge.<ref name="heritageexplorer" /> It features two flat segmental stone arches that each span {{Convert|35|ft|m}}, which support brick spandrels and parapets.<ref name="mcfetrich" /> Its design is based on Bishop Bridge, the only surviving medieval bridge in the city.<ref name="pevsner" />

== See also == * Carrow Bridge, another bridge built in the early 20th century in Norwich * {{Commons category-inline}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Bridges of Norwich Category:Bridges completed in the 16th century Category:Bridges completed in 1829 Category:Bridges completed in 1933 Category:Brick bridges Category:Stone bridges in the United Kingdom Category:Grade II listed bridges in England