“Barden Bridge by Andrew and Annemarie CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Barden Bridge
- Approach Barden Towers from Appletreewick on the riverside path and the first thing you see is a graceful stone bridge of three segmental arches. The massive pointed cutwaters provide niches in the parapets.
- The bridge is humpbacked and quite narrow at around 10 feet.
- Whilst the first recorded bridge existed in the 14th century it was probably not the first.
- In 1659 £300 was spent on the bridge but by 1673 it was washed away in a ‘great inundation of water’. A tablet on the approach wall records ‘This bridge was repayred at the charge of the whole west riding 1676’.
- New parapets were placed in situ in 1856 and again in 1956 after heavy flooding.
- Walkers can stand in the niches and admire the flowing Wharfe as it gurgles under the bridge towards Bolton Abbey, Ilkley and beyond.
It is said the bridge was crossed by William Craven a local farmers son who went on to be mayor of London.
“Barden Bridge by david_pics CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Burnsall Bridge
Burnsall Bridge. Photo Tejvan
- Burnasll bridge is one of the most photographed bridges in the Yorkshire Dales and I make no apology for the photo below.
- Returning to William Craven who left the dale, was apprenticed to a London mercer and became mayor of London in 1611. From his newly created wealth he endowed Burnsall Grammar School, restored the church and bore the cost of rebuilding the bridge.
- “a good bridge and all paved” was a description of Burnsall bridge in 1752 which again needed rebuilding in 1884 following severe flood damage.
- There are three segmental arches with small side arches and triangular section cutwaters which create pedestrian retreats.
- This bridge carries now significantly more traffic than Barden bridge.
18 Burnsall Bridge by voithite CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Photo Burnsall Bridge Autumn
Burnsall Bridge Sumer
Credits
Related