The River Path

Cutwaters

"A pointed or rounded upstream and (sometimes) downstream extension to a bridge pier at water level to smooth the flow of water past the pier" (Bridges, McFetrich and Parsons, Dovecote Press, 1998).

The cutwaters can all be found on bridges of the Stour in Dorset.

Crawford Bridge
The cutwaters on the upstream side give the bridge a 'lively medieval elevation'. The downstream cutwaters were removed in 1819 when the bridge was widened.

White Mill Bridge
The cutwaters are on the upstream and downstream sides of the bridge and also provide refuges - places for pedestrians to get out of the way of traffic

Blandford Bridge
Half pint cutwaters

Fifehead Neville
Packhorse Bridge
Central cutwater only on the
upstream face. Medieval.

Higher Wood Bridge
Semi-circular cutwaters, probably 18th century on the upstream face. Medieval.

Cornford Bridge
An upstream cutwater. Medieval.

Mills of the Stour