Part of the remains of a bridge (thought to be Ro) were removed from the Trent at Cromwell, early in the C19. The piers were described as lozenge shaped, formed by trees laid in the bed of the stream infilled with stone (cf Chesters and Corbridge). 2 further piers were dredged up in 1884. A possible Ro road based partly on the evidence of the bridge is shown on the Ro map. (1) (2)
Some concrete and 2 morticed beams, probable date C3 (? no evidence for date) from the 1884 finds were deposited in NWM by the Trent Navigation Co. (3)
An inscribed stone marks the site of the bridge. (4)
Of the timbers salvaged the only known survivor is a fragment of a boxed heart oak balk. This timber has been dated to AD 740-50 (felling date) by dendrochronology. This shows that the bridge was in fact Mercian, built in the middle of the 8th century AD and the only Saxon bridge known from this period. (5)
Calibrated results (2 sigma, 95% probability): AD 420 to 635. (7)
See L10620 for human remains.

<1> British Archaeological Assoc, 1885, JBAA, pp 43-52 (Published document). SNT193.

<2> VCH, 1910, Notts, pp 25-6 (Published document). SNT1384.

<3> Smith A, 1927, Guide to the Roman and Pre-Roman Antiquities in the Museum (Newark), pp 23-4 (Published document). SNT955.

<4> Chambers J, OS Rec 6in (Personal comment). SNT548.

Other Refs: Trent Navigation Co

<5> Thoroton Society, 1995, TTS, pp 121-3 (Published document). SNT1525.

<6> Salisbury, C, 1995, Antiquity, No 226, pp 1015-8 (Unknown). SNT1817.

<7> Beta Analytic Inc., 1995, Report of Radiocarbon Dating Analyses. Cromwell Bridge (Unpublished document). SNT2240.