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265:, who apparently contributed the design for the bridge. The bridge was used as a halt from which Henley—the MP for Northampton—could travel to parliament in London. Henley was a lay vicar and is believed to have used the bridge to preach to the estate's workers, hence its nickname "Pulpit Bridge". The nickname "Armchair Bridge" was apparently coined by railway staff for its resemblance to a piece of furniture.
233:. They have carved recessed panels in a similar shape to the openwork on the metal projections which are directly above. Underneath the bridge is a metal gate which rests on decorative posts and is flanked by railings on either side. The gate marks the entry point to the point.
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The bridge originally had other decorative cast-iron elements but these were removed in the 1930s, having deteriorated beyond repair. The bridge is otherwise little altered and is regularly maintained as an active railway bridge. It was designated a Grade II
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The bridge is in metal with stone abutments and brick wing walls. Its parapet has a shape which has been variously described as resembling an armchair or a
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in 2011 in recognition of its unusual design. Listed building status provides legal protection from unauthorised demolition or unsympathetic modification.
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or the arms of a chair. The projections have decorative banding, finials and openwork in the shape of gothic arches.
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with interleaving arches. They end with projections which cap the abutments and which resemble a church
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railway line over a former entrance drive to the
Watford Park estate near
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line which was built to provide a second pair of tracks between
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which face north and south have foliate designs. The
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229:The abutments are in moulded ashlar with stone
375:Grade II listed buildings in Northamptonshire
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335:British Railway Briges & Viaducts
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241:The bridge was built in 1877 by the
16:Bridge in Northamptonshire, England
337:. Hersham: Ian Allan. p. 12.
309:National Heritage List for England
214:, the owners of Watford Park. The
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263:Anthony Henley, 3rd Baron Henley
243:London and North Western Railway
210:contain the coat of arms of the
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90:Entrance drive to Watford Lodge
380:1877 establishments in England
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365:Bridges completed in 1877
304:"Pulpit Bridge (1404795)"
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99:Watford, Northamptonshire
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190:for its unusual design.
370:Grade II listed bridges
333:Smith, Martin (1994).
61:52.323815°N 1.11549°W
204:four-centred arches
66:52.323815; -1.11549
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218:take the form of
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300:Historic England
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247:Northampton loop
180:Northampton Loop
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81:Northampton loop
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271:listed building
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188:listed building
172:Armchair Bridge
127:Characteristics
121:listed building
116:Heritage status
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176:Bridge No. 69
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23:Pulpit Bridge
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313:. Retrieved
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174:(officially
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110:Network Rail
259:Northampton
220:balustrades
194:Description
64: /
39:Coordinates
359:Categories
277:References
49:52°19′26″N
208:spandrels
119:Grade II
101:, England
52:1°06′56″W
315:18 April
245:for its
216:parapets
156:Location
135:of spans
237:History
231:copings
184:Watford
143:History
87:Crosses
77:Carries
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224:pulpit
200:pulpit
148:Opened
95:Locale
255:Rugby
251:Roade
339:ISBN
317:2024
253:and
166:The
151:1877
170:or
133:No.
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325:^
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138:1
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