1575. Essex Bridge [Map] is located just downstream of where the River Sow and River Trent converge adjacent to the Trent & Mersey Canal. Originally forty arches only fourteen remain. It was commissioned by Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex (age 9) as a pack-horse bridge although this seems unlikely given its width of four feet and narrow cutwaters. And his age in 1575 was only around ten so it likely a bridge was constructed before he commissioned its improvement, or alteration.

The River Trent rises on Biddulph Moor, Staffordshire [Map] and flows, in a great horseshoe through, or near, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire [Map], Stone, Staffordshire [Map], Essex Bridge [Map], Bishton Hall, Staffordshire [Map], Colwich, Staffordshire [Map] passing St Michael and All Angels Church, Colwich [Map], Rugeley, Staffordshire [Map], Kings Bromley, Staffordshire [Map], Alrewas, Staffordshire [Map], Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire [Map], Newton Solney [Map], Repton [Map], under Swarkestone Bridge [Map], Sawley [Map], Nottingham [Map], Holme Pierrepoint [Map], Stoke Ferry Shelford [Map], under Gunthorpe Bridge [Map], past Gunthorpe Lock [Map], Hoveringham Nottingham [Map], Newark on Trent [Map], Knaith [Map], Dunham Bridge [Map], Sutton on Trent [Map], the Isle of Axholme [Map] and Gainsborough [Map] before joining the Humber Estuary at Trent Falls [Map].

The River Sow rises near Fair Oak, Staffordshire [Map]. From there it flows past Outlands, Staffordshire [Map], Bishops Offley, Staffordshire [Map], Copmere End, Staffordshire [Map], Eccleshall Castle, Staffordshire [Map], Chebsey, Staffordshire [Map], Little Bridgeford, Staffordshire [Map], Great Bridgeford, Staffordshire [Map], Stafford, Staffordshire [Map] to Baswich, Stafford [Map] where it is joined by the River Penk.

After Baswich the River Penk flows past Milford, Staffordshire [Map] to Essex Bridge [Map] where it joins the River Trent.