Leicester." It was built of stone, like the other large bridges, but in his day they were all, with the exception of Bow Bridge, patched with brick. This bridge was about 23 yards long and 6 feet wide, with niches at intervals on both sides, in which foot-passengers could stand when carriages were passing; and there were piers, with cut-waters, beneath the niches. Tradition has recorded that, when the monastery of the Grey Friars was dissolved, the remains of Richard the Third were taken from his tomb, and thrown over the Bow Bridge into the river Soar. He was said to have marched to Bosworth's fatal field across the same bridge, where an old woman, sitting by the way, foretold his doom. From these traditions connected with it, it gained the name of King Richard's Bridge, and was so called by Throsby, who gave a good illustration of it, but the best drawing of the bridge is one made by Dr. Lee, and published in Kelly's "Royal Progresses." About the year 1784, after a carriage crossing it had been all but swept away by the flooded stream, it was widened with brick-work. In 1863 it was rebuilt, and again widened, at a cost of £932. A tablet was then placed above the bridge bearing this legend: "Near this spot lie the remains of Richard III, the last of the Plantagenets."
(5) BRAUNSTON BRIDGE.
This bridge, which crossed the old Soar, south of Bow Bridge, is mentioned in 1317, when "Thomas the Chapman was killed by several men while crossing the bridge to his house in Brunkynesthorp," Brunkynesthorp, or Bromkinsthorpe, was the old name of Braunstone Gate.
The old stone bridge of four high-pointed arches, was 51 yards in length, and from 3 yards 28 inches to 534 yards wide. The parapet walls were a yard high. It was widened with brick in 1792, and a new bridge of iron, costing about £4,000, was erected about 1884.
(6) COW BRIDGE.
This bridge, which crossed the New Cut, south of the Newarke and north of St. Mary's Mill, is anonymous in the plan
103
