13 THE GREAT BRIDGE OF BURTON-ON-TRENT. 
was a costly tax when the revenue was the endowment of one noble- 
man, with no obligations, what must it have been when the same 
revenue had to support the Abbot, and, at least, twelve others, with 
the obligation of hospitality to great and small who flocked to their 
gates, the care of sick and needy, the upkeep of schools, and the 
services of the Abbey Church, and the continual call for contributions 
to levies by the King? Is it any wonder that the Abbot and 
Convent should appeal to the outside public to help them with the 
repair of a bridge which was “a comen passage to and fro many 
counteys”; no source of revenue, but only a great drain upon their 
resources ¢ 
In 1540 the Abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII; three years 
afterwards it was made a Collegiate Church, and the obligation of 
maintenance would rest with the Dean and Prebends. In 1549 the 
Dean and Prebends had to surrender the Collegiate Church to the 
King, who granted it to Sir William Paget, and the upkeep of the 
bridge was borne by the estate of the Marquis of Anglesey. 
I can find nothing about the bridge again till 1636, and this we 
learn from sketches of inscribed stones on the bridge. One stone 
over the 22nd arch bears this date (Fig. 2, p. 14), and shows that 
repairs to that part of the bridge were done at this date, 
Our next information is from “ A true relation of what service 
hath been done by Colonel Sir John Gell, Bart., for the Kinge and 
Parliament in defence of the town and county of Derby, &c., from 
October, 1642, till October 1646.” In April 1643 “ Colonel Gell sent 
to Lord Grey desiring his assistance for the retaking of Burton, by 
reason it was the only passage over the Trent and Dove into the North. 
My Lord within two days come, and mett Colonell Gell att the rendez- 
vouze, on Egginton Heath, and soe marched togeather to the said 
Burton, drove the enemy away, and Colonell Gell left one of his bigest 
ffoot companys their, consisting of two hundred, under Captayne 
