In October 2002 ARCUS were commissioned by Royal Haskoning to undertake a search of information relating to the structural form of historic bridges within the Peak District National Park area. This work was occasioned by the discovery of possible foundations within geotechnical test-pits adjacent to Holme Bridge in Bakewell. The search involved contacting local Sites and Monuments Records, as well as a search of journals and published sources relating to the area. The search has revealed that no recent work has been carried out on the foundations of Derbyshire bridges of a comparable date with Sheepwash and Holme Bridges in Bakewell and Ashford. References to an earlier bridge at Holme could account for possible earlier structures underlying the present bridge or an early rebuild. Alternatively, rubble adjacent to the structure could relate to elements of the standing structure which have collapsed.
Rowan May (Tue,) studied this question.