Nantwich Bridge

Nantwich lay on the main London–Chester road, an important transport route, and the bridge was heavily used for trade and military purposes from the medieval era until the 19th century.

The earliest crossing of the River Weaver was via a ford to the south of the existing bridge, near the probable site of the Norman castle.

[2][3] A Roman trackway running at an angle to the course of Welsh Row was found during excavations by the existing bridge in 2007.

[4] The town's location on the main London to Chester road meant that the crossing would have seen heavy use from the medieval era, including by soldiers en route to Wales and later Ireland.

[11] In 1622, William Webb writes: A strong timber bridge over the stream of the Weever is maintained by the town, which requires no little care and cost, by reason of the monstrous carriages of the wood in carts which is brought thither for the boiling of their salt.

[10] Wilbraham was a prominent Nantwich resident who lived at Townsend House on Welsh Row; he later endowed the town's Widows' Almshouses.

[10] Wilbraham writes that "My little boy, a Twin of 2 years old, was the first corpse that was carried over the new Bridge the beging of July 1664.