St Ives Bridge and Chapel

St Ives Bridge is a 15th-century bridge crossing the River Great Ouse in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. It is noted for being one of only four bridges in England to incorporate a chapel. The chapel was restored in 1930, having previously served as a toll house, inn and as a private residence. It had originally been designed as a chapel, though, and dedicated by the monks to Saint Leger. By 1736 it was being used as accommodation, and in that year two extra floors were added. During the 1850s and 1860s it was turned into a notorious public house, then a doctor’s surgery. By 1930 the structure was found to be weakened so the extra stories were removed and the chapel restored. As a result of this, the roof is modern. An unusual feature is the crypt, about two metres above the river’s water level. The bridge and the chapel are now Grade I listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.