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Chris Spracklen | all galleries >> Galleries >> Devon in HDR > Clapper bridge, Postbridge, Devon
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18.9.09 Chris Spracklen

Clapper bridge, Postbridge, Devon

Postbridge, Dartmoor, Devon

Postbridge is a small collection of buildings on the B3212, between Moretonhamstead and Two Bridges. At first sight, Postbridge has very little to offer its many visitors; it has a shop, an inn, and a small car park complete with information centre and toilets. The main attraction of the village is that it is situated at the very centre of the Dartmoor National Park, and therefore it has become a natural starting and ending point for the many thousands of ramblers who wish to explore the beauty of Dartmoor.

Postbridge's other attraction is the finest example of a clapper bridge in the county. The clapper bridge straddles the East Dart River, just twenty meters from the main road bridge (built in the 1780's), and is clearly visible as you drive through the village. The bridge is constructed from four large granite slabs supported by three granite piers. The large slabs are each over 4m long and 2m wide and weigh over 8 tons each.

Clapper bridges are unique to the dartmoor area. There are 30 bridges in total on Dartmoor, being constructed in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries by medieval tin workers and farmers as crossings over the many small rivers that traverse the moorland.

Information from the 'Dartmoor' web site: http://www.devon-online.com/towns/dartmoor/Welcome.html


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Graeme12-Apr-2010 22:10
Very pretty litte village and bridge Chris.BV!
lou_rozensteins27-Mar-2010 22:27
Amazing construction in that bridge ..... not even thinking about the weight of the pieces at the top; the pillars seem to be so well put together. Interesting and well-detailed shot. Well done.
Ken Chambers ARPS27-Mar-2010 14:51
Superb picture and history Chris.... voted
Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)27-Mar-2010 13:22
Excellent work and great capture! V++
Paolo
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