Bridges Act 1670

XIV. Recital that there are many Rivers in Cheshire and Lancashire that are dangerous for want of Bridges.

Bridges to be built in Cheshire and Lancashire within Ten Years, and Bridges demolished in the late War to be repaired; Charges for the same to be levied as by 22 H. VIII. c. 5.

And whereas in the Countyes of Chester and Lancaster there are many and sundry great and deepe Rivers which runn crosse and through the common and publique Highwayes and Roads within the said Countyes which many times cannot be passed over without hazard and losse of the Lives and Goods of the Inhabitants and Travellers within the said Countyes for want of convenient, good and sufficient Bridges in the said Highwayes and Roads, to build and erect which there is noe Law [X1 now] in force Therefore bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid That for ten yeares next following and noe longer the respective Justices of Peace within the said respective Countyes shall upon the presentment of the Grand Jury at their respective generall Quarter Sessions have power and authority by Order or Warrant under the Hands and Seales of all, or the major part of the said Justices being six at least then present to cause to be erected and builded any new Bridge or Bridges in such place or places in any of the said Highwayes over any of the said Rivers within their respective Jurisdictions as they shall judge fitt and necessary and soe declare by such Order as aforesaid, and likewise to repaire or rebuild such other Bridges as were demolished in the late Warr, And by their said Order to charge either their whole respective Countyes, or any Hundred or Hundreds within their said respective Countyes with the erecting and building any such Bridge or Bridges, and from time to time (as neede shall require) with the repaireing & amending of all or any the said Bridges, which shall be assessed, leavyed and gathered in such sort, manner and forme as the Moneyes for repaireing of Bridges now in being are used to be assessed leavyed and gathered by vertue of the late Statute in the two and twentyeth yeare of the Raigne of the late King Henry the Eighth in that case made and provided.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.