A picture of St Ives, a Historic Market Town in the county of Cambridgeshire

St Ives Bridge is a 15th century bridge crossing the River Great Ouse in St Ives. During the English Civil War the bridge was partially blown up by the troops of Oliver Cromwell to prevent King Charles' troops approaching London from the Royalist base in Lincolnshire. The two arches on the southern side were demolished and a drawbridge installed in 1645 as a defensive measure by Cromwell's forces who held the town. The drawbridge remained in use until 1716. When the bridge was rebuilt that year the shape of the new arches was different from the surviving ones, leaving the bridge with two rounded arches on its South side and two Gothic arches on the North.

Cambridgeshire

This image is available to purchase and is part of our Cambridgeshire Stock Photos Collection.