Barnstaple Long Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnstaple Long Bridge |
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Barnstaple Long Bridge, seen from the Barnstaple side of the river
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| Coordinates | 51°04′39″N 4°03′36″W / 51.0775°N 4.0600°W |
| OS grid reference | |
| Carries | A3125 road |
| Crosses | River Taw |
| Locale | Barnstaple, Devon, England |
| Heritage status | Grade I listed building, ancient monument |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | stone |
| Total length | 159 metres (522 ft) |
| Number of spans | 16 |
The Barnstaple Long Bridge is a very old bridge in Devon, England. It crosses the River Taw and connects Tawstock with Barnstaple. This bridge was built a long time ago, in the Middle Ages. It's one of the biggest medieval bridges in Britain.
It is also a special listed building and an ancient monument. This means it's protected because it's so important. Another similar old bridge, the Bideford Long Bridge, is nearby.
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History of Barnstaple Long Bridge
When Was the Bridge First Built?
It's not exactly clear when the first bridge was built. We know that in 1274, someone left money in their will to help keep it in good condition. Around 1280, there was a lot of building work done on it. More work happened in 1333.
The bridge was partly damaged in 1437 and again in 1646. Some parts might have been made of wood at first. These wooden parts were called "maiden Arches." They were replaced with stone in the 1500s.
How Has the Bridge Changed Over Time?
In 1796, the bridge was made wider to handle more people and traffic. A special path for people to walk on was added in the 1830s. At this time, James Green used strong cast iron to make the bridge even stronger.
In the 1960s, some of the top stonework was replaced. Concrete was used, but it was covered with stone to look like the original bridge. This made it look like it did between 1796 and 1832.
Dealing with Traffic
For a long time, the bridge had a lot of traffic jams. This changed in May 2007 when the Barnstaple Western Bypass opened. This new road helps cars going to Braunton and Ilfracombe avoid driving through the town centre and over the old bridge.
The bypass is about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long. It includes a new bridge that is about 447-yard-long (409 m) and has five sections. This big project cost around £42 million. In 2016, there were plans to make the old bridge even better. These plans included wider footpaths and new lanes for bicycles.
Structure of the Long Bridge
The Long Bridge has 16 pointed arches made of stone. These arches are different sizes. They range from 5.5 metres (18 ft) to 7.9 metres (26 ft) wide. The total length of the bridge is 159 metres (522 ft).
