Lifting and restoration of the bridge next to the Monastery over the Guadarrama River
The bridge, made of very good quality granite ashlar, has a four-eyed layout, with semicircular vaults and spans the Guadarrama River on the road that linked the Campillo and Monasterio farms, in San Lorenzo de El Escorial and El Dump
Bridge next to Monastery on the Guadarrama River in San Lorenzo de El Escorial and El Escorial (Madrid)
It was built in the 17th century as a replacement for a wooden bridge. Before beginning the restoration works, it was hidden by the undergrowth, with part of its parapets detached and threatening ruin.
The restoration has allowed to know the fourth eye of the bridge and return the fallen ashlar to its original place.
The bridge, built entirely in granite masonry, has four eyes with semi-circular vaults of a single thread of voussoirs.
The three intermediate piers have cutwaters upstream to reduce the current pressure on the supports. The board sits on the four arches, its sides being protected by separate parapets. There is a smooth impost at the height of the board on which the parapet rests made of rectangular pieces. At the ends of the parapet there are great ashlar buttresses crowned by a spire, a pinnacle and a ball. Next to the eastern access, on the south side, the remains of the entrance door are preserved.
During the last decade of the sixteenth century, Philip II bought a series of properties with the aim of creating two new recreational farms near the Royal Site of El Escorial. Within the framework of this project, the monarch ordered the construction of three wooden bridges on the road linking the Campillo and the Monastery between 1595 and 1596.
Years later, the prior of the monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial requested King Felipe III to rebuild the wooden bridges. In 1621 the works of conservation and improvement of the road began under the direction of Juan Gómez de Mora. The old bridges are replaced by more solid ones built in ashlar masonry. Due to a series of economic difficulties, the works lasted until 1624.
Image gallery
Board covered with dirt, before the performance
Much of the parapets and the pylons that finished it were detached
Petriles and board after the performance
Recovery of original materials
Recovery of original materials
Recovery of original materials
Recovery of original materials
When these lands and brush were removed, the fourth eye of the bridge, unknown until now, has been unearthed.
Bridge in its original state
Bridge after the performance
Restaurants
Before beginning the restoration works, this important exponent of early seventeenth century engineering was completely hidden by undergrowth and the board covered with earth. In addition, a large part of the parapets and the buttresses that finished off it were detached and only one remained in place, being in a sorry state.
The work of restoration began with the cleaning and clearing of the structure, performing archaeological work. Subsequently began the restoration tasks themselves, providing adequate support to the access jambs and volumetrically recovering the north jamb.
Thanks to the recovery of original materials found in the river bed, it was possible to replace a large part of the paving stone and to place the pieces of the parapets following the trace marked by the ashlars of the imposts that finished off the sides of the deck. Finally, a comprehensive cleaning and sanitation of the factories was carried out, to which a protective layer was applied in order to reduce water absorption.
The intervention has not only made it possible to halt the deterioration of the bridge and largely return it to its original appearance, but it has also made it possible to discover structural aspects that were previously unknown. In this way, it has been possible to document how, with the intention of modifying the original grade, successive fillings had been made. In this same sense, it has been found that the size of the bridge was larger than expected, as well as the true gauge of the deck, which has a considerable curvature. In addition, when these lands and weeds were removed, the fourth eye of the bridge, unknown until now, has been unearthed.
Archives
report_final_obras_entregadopdf.pdf (29.53 MB)