Great Bridge of Bourn / Abington?

Where was the Great Bridge of Bourn?

Where was the Bridge of Bourn? Well, one might have thought in Bourn itself until we were sent an intriguing commentary by RR who suggests that the bridge discussed in the two articles referred to below was in fact Bourn Bridge, which is nowhere near Bourn but in fact just west of the Abingtons.

Little Abington OS 1885

The location suggested is indeed due south of Babraham and would certainly have been on a main route to London, rather than through Bourn village. But the Abington location on the 1885 map does not support evidence of local pubs with the names referred to. So rather than make an arbitrary judgement I leave the issue hanging with the comments of the two authors below and the caveat of our reader ‘RR’ above.

The Great Bridge of Bourn was built in 1762 and replaced in 1950. The 18th century bridge had replaced a low wooden platform near to where a popular mineral water was drawn from Jacob’s Well.

Bourn Bridge (W M Palmer, pre 1924)

It was a popular destination of gentry and students who gathered at the King’s Arms inn at the foot of the bridge. The White Hart and Harp inns opposite were used by humbler folk. The Bridge was also am important stopping point for the coaching trade.

The King’s Arms was an elegant inn with a bowling green and gardens. Many University clubs held their social events there. But drunken brawls often resulted. In the summer large marquees were set up for archery competitions followed by dinner in the evening. The main event of the year was the County Ball.

Road tolls were collected on the bridge, at one time from the White Hart Inn, then in the 18th century from a little brick gatehouse. The toll point was called the ‘Bourn Bridge and Babraham Gates.’ Coaches from London to Norwich would call at Bourn’s Bridge.

The King’s Arms kept a livery of 30 horses for private hire. In July 1790 a fire broke out in the stable block; six horses belonging to the Norwich Mail Coach were killed and the entire stables burned down.

Near the bridge is a spot called ‘Langden’s Grave’ where the body of a notorious local highwayman, Geoffrey Langden, are said to rest. The Langden family ran the White Hart. In 1776 Customs and excise men seized £2,000 worth of tea and lace hidden in dog kennels at the rear of the inn. In 1791 the White Hart closed and it became the residence of Richard Christling.

The King’s Arms was demolished in 1850 as it lost much of its trade to the railways and other inns.

See Tales of Old Cambridgeshire by Polly Howat, 1990.

W M Palmer (1924) also wrote about the Bourn Bridge:

Two large inns, the chief one, “the King’s Arms”, stood in fron of the present row of cottages, which were made out of the inn stables, just as the cottages in Horn Lane, Linton were made out of the stables of the “Unicorn”. The wood on the right hand side of the road before you is called Lagden’s Grove. Near the river bank in this grove stood in the 18th century another inn, “The White Hart,” which at one time outstripped the “King’s Arms” in business and popularity. This was due to the energy of Emma Lagden, a Quakeress.