5 THE GREAT BRIDGE OF BURTON-ON-TRENT. 
piles from four feet six inches to nine feet in length, placed about 
a foot apart.’ He also mentions two or three pieces of timber 
squared, and containing holes for wooden bolts, saying they had 
evidently been previously used in the roof of some building; for 
my part this looks more like Roman piling. Again, Molyneux 
mentions the masonry of some of the buttresses was placed on large, 
strong planks, varying from three to nine inches in thickness, and 
supported on piles; this again looks like Roman work. He also 
says, in others the masonry was brought up from the bottom and 
protected by a DOUBLE row of piles; this looks like Medizval work. 
Anyhow, had there been anyone at the taking down of the old 
bridge, with the requisite knowledge, he should have been able to say 
if it was Roman, medieval, or modern, as I showed in my former 
paper. 
Let us leave conjecture and try and get to solid facts. We will 
begin on doubtful ground and gradually work our way on to date 
and reference. The first point I think must be the ratification of 
Wulfric Spott’s restoration to the Church of the lands which, I 
believe, came into his possession of S. Modwen’s early foundation, 
and his refounding with them the Benedictine House at Burton. 
King Kthelred, in the year 1004, makes this ratification; the deed 
exempts the Abbey from all exactions, duties, and services, except 
the reparation of highways, the erection of fortresses and BripcEs! 
May we not say there is some evidence here of a bridge, or why 
mention it, and make the maintenance of it an obligation on the 
Abbey unless the lands have always borne that charge ? 
I again turn to Molyneux, who says, ‘ the earliest deeds in 
which the bridge is mentioned were executed during the time of 
Abbot Bernard, 1157-1175.” Unfortunately he does not give his 
references. 
I turn to Shaw and he gives the same reference, but says he took 
it from Erdeswicke, who, he laments, did not think proper to refer to 
his authorities. Dr. Plot makes the same statement. 
tii i 
