Chatterton's ‘Bridge Narrative’, published in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal on October 1st 1768, is one of the few of his poems that appeared during his lifetime. A new bridge had been built across the Frome bewteen 1763 and 1768; Chatterton celebrates its opening by describing the opening of the old bridge ages before, with all the ceremonies and processions of civil officers, priests, friars, and minstrels, their banners and clarions.
The 'Bridge Narrative' is a detailed set of stage directions for an elaborate, colourful civic pageant expressive of Chatterton's senses of a holy and heroic Bristol past and a unified community of feeling in religion, art, and civic life. Rich detail brings the three parts of the narrative vividly to the mind's eye—the order of march to the bridge, the commemorative ceremony there and the ceremonies, feastings, and sports that close the day.
The 'Bridge Narrative' drew Chatterton to the attention of Barrett and Calcot, and so began their encouragement of his poetry.
The ‘song’ of Chatterton’s invented saint was also ccasioned by the opening of the new bridge. The poem describes the history of bridges, in the 7th and 11th century, over the river in Bristol on the site of the saint’s miracle. It concludes:
Now agayne, wythe bremie force, Severn ynn hys aynciant course Rolls hys rappyd streeme alonge, With a sable swifte and stronge, Movynge manie ann okie wood: Wee, the menne of Bristowe towne, Have yreerd thys brydge of stone, Wyshynge echone that ytt maie laste Till the date of daies be past, Standynge where the other stoode
The final stanza (verse) looks towards the 1768 bridge, and to Doomsday. The strong rhythm and fixed rhyme scheme are well suited to its structure as a song.