Swan Bridge

{{Short description|Grade II listed bridge in Oxford, English}} {{for|the bridges in Saint Petersburg|Upper Swan Bridge|Lower Swan Bridge}}{{distinguish|Swann Bridge}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} thumb|Swan Bridge, seen from upstream thumb|The view from Swan Bridge, looking upstream '''Swan Bridge''', also known as '''Castle Mill Bridge''', carries Paradise Street over the Castle Mill Stream in Oxford, England. Oxford Castle lies to the north-east, and has an entrance from Paradise Street adjacent to the bridge. To the north, the Castle Mill Stream is crossed by Quaking Bridge, whilst to the south it is crossed by a pair of footbridges before the bridge for Oxpens Road.<ref name=osm>{{cite map |title=Swan Bridge |work=OpenStreetMap |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=51.7512&mlon=-1.2636&zoom=15#map=18/51.750856/-1.263782 |access-date=28 July 2025 |archive-date=28 July 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250728125128/https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=51.7512&mlon=-1.2636&zoom=15#map=18/51.750856/-1.263782}}</ref><ref name=ohwb4>{{cite book |url=https://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/Book%204%20-%20footnoted%20text%20MG.pdf |title=Oxford Heritage Walks - Book 4 - On foot from Paradise Square to Sheepwash |publisher=Oxford Preservation Trust |first=Malcolm |last=Graham |year=2016 |access-date=28 July 2025 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613153938/https://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/Book%204%20-%20footnoted%20text%20MG.pdf}}</ref>

The bridge has two stone arches, with a cutwater on the north side, and a level roadway that is flanked by cast-iron railings. It probably dates from the early 19th century, was rebuilt in 1895, and was Grade II listed in 1972.<ref name=ohwb4/><ref name=blb>{{cite web |title=Swan Bridge, Oxford |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-245721-swan-bridge-oxford/bingmap |work=British Listed Buildings |access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=nhle>{{cite web |title=Swan Bridge |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1047176?section=official-list-entry |work=National Heritage List for England |publisher=Historic England |access-date=28 July 2025}} List entry 1047176.</ref>

Nearby was the Castle Mill, established by 1086 and demolished in 1930, whose site is now marked by the pair of weirs just upstream from the bridge. The land near the bridge was historically known as the Swans’ Nest after the swans that were bred there. Swan's Nest Brewery (later the Swan Brewery) was recorded on the site in 1700.<ref name=ohwb4/><ref>{{cite book | editor-last=Page | editor-first=W. H. | editor-link=William Henry Page |series=Victoria County History |title=A History of the County of Oxford | volume=2 | year=1907 | publisher=Archibald Constable & Co | chapter=Industries: Malting and Brewing | pages=225–277 | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=101945#s12}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

{{River item box}} {{coord|51.7512|N|1.2636|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

Category:Bridges in Oxford Category:Grade II listed buildings in Oxford Category:Grade II listed bridges in England