St John's Bridge
Early-attested site in the Parish of Lechlade
Historical Forms
- pont' Sancti Johannis de Lichelade 1459 MinAcct
- Saynt Joones bridge 1591 FF
Etymology
St John's Bridge, pont ' Sancti Johannis de Lichelade 1459MinAcct , Saynt Joones bridge 1591 FF, cf. also 'priori et fratribus de ponte de Lichelad ' 1234 Cl, ponte Sancti Mich ' de Lychelade 1494MinAcct (possibly an error for St John ). The bridge, which carries the Cirencester-Faringdon road over the Thames at the presumed site of an older passage (cf. Lechlade supra ), was named from the local priory of St John; the priory was founded c. 1220 and dedicated to St John Baptist, and the bridge built a few years later (cf. BG xxii, 44, xli, 223–6).