Although I'd been across the bridge previously, it wasn't until I took photos of the Lower Cemetery below the catacombs that I actually saw it, not having walked that way before. I was so excited about that as it's such a lovely bridge with some interesting history.
In 1834, a new bridge was ordered by the newly appointed City Commissioners to span across the steep-sided Longbrook Valley. The original approach, Lower North Street, was too narrow and had become increasingly difficult for the horse drawn carts carrying lime from lime kilns in the St Leonards area.
The bridge was cast between 1834-35, by Russell and Brown of Blaina in Monmouthshire, and has six 40ft arches with a total span of 800ft. The parts were brought to the city by sea and up through the Exeter Ship Canal, where they were unloaded at the Canal Basin.
The newly erected bridge made it much
easier for coach and horses and the last coaching inn to be built, the
Crown and Scepter, was duly opened, its doors wide enough to
accommodate the six-horse coaches from Barnstaple.
That was such a delightful end to a lovely day exploring RAF Poltimore with some friends up from Plymouth. Then, after they dropped me off in the city, enjoying my leisurely walk around the Catacombs & Lower Cemetery and finding this fabulous bridge. Visited in May 2009; one of those magical days! ;)
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