Bridges of the area 4

The name of the village tells us that originally a ford sufficed for those travelling from Arrow and Dunnington to Wixford, Exhall, Broom and Bidford-on-Avon. (Alcester people made use of the Roman road from Oversley Mill via Wixford church)

The present bridge is of modern construction but it has a long history: in 1566 it is mentioned in the Oversley manor rolls and features often in the l7th Century records of Quarter Sessions: the bridge is recognised as a 'County Bridge', one which was the responsibility of all county ratepayers to maintain - this must have been to the great satisfaction of local people.

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However, during the 1650s (the Commonwealth Period) the Justices of the Peace given the task by Quarter Sessions of examining the bridge and reporting. back were very remiss in their work and it took some ,years before repairs were completed and even longer to collect the money to pay for them. The work was probably not of a high standard, for in the 1660's ~ 1680's the County had further reports that 'Wicklesford Bridge' was in a dangerous condition. The bridge seems to have survived the centuries in spite of the inadequacy of Quarter Sessions as a form of county administration.