I have just added this to the map of places to fly your drone at Drone Scene:
Historic England estimates that fewer than 200 medieval multi-arch bridges survive in England.
Thomas Walker Horsfield and James Dallaway—both 19th-century Sussex historians—along with other early authorities date the current bridge to 1309 but subsequent historians have suggested later dates. Edwin Jervoise, in his survey of historic bridges for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in the 1920s, suggested a 16th-century origin but believed the current structure was a replacement for a medieval one dating to 1347 and A. A. Evans, a Sussex historian writing in 1936, places it at 1423. Historic England postulates that the current structure was probably built from 1422 to 1423.
One arch was destroyed during the 17th-century English Civil War and replaced with a drawbridge, which was fenced off in 1650. The centre arch was raised in 1822 to allow larger boats to pass after the opening of the Wey and Arun Canal, which allowed onward connections north towards London.
The bridge carried the main route from Petworth and Fittleworth to Pulborough (the A283 road). It suffered damage from overloading by military convoys during the Second World War, exacerbated by heavy traffic later in the 20th century. Traffic lights were installed but it became increasingly common for vehicles to strike the bridge parapet at the curve. In 1986, a modern concrete bridge opened 100 feet to the north of the medieval bridge and the A283 was diverted. The medieval bridge was restored in 1991.
Safe and quiet to TOAL from the far end of the bridge from the pub.
The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 13/06/2026. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.
