Landscapes

A bridge was first built at the site around 1780 following authorisation by Act of Parliament and with the agreement of Tomkyns Dew, the Lord of the manor. The stone structure of five bays replaced a ferry that had been operated by Dew. This bridge and two successors of similar design were all destroyed by flooding on the river, the last in 1795.

Another Act Of Parliament was passed in 1796, allowing the crossing to be partially rebuilt in 1797 to a different design that used stone and wood. The central three bays were at this time replaced with a wood decking and superstructure. This beam and trestle design comprising three spans is how the bridge appears today. The two outer spans are buttressed masonry archways of sandstone and ashlar; the central wooden section has two double pontoons to support it.]

A major program of reconstruction was undertaken in 1992-1993, costing around £300,000