Old Bridge (Wadebridge)

This article is about the bridge in Wadebridge.
For other bridges of the same name, see Old Bridge.

The Old Bridge at Wadebridge is the longest bridge in Cornwall and for many years carried the busy A39 across the River Camel. Today it is once again left for the townspeople and visitors following the construction of the Wadebridge Bypass Viaduct in 1991.

The bridge consists of 15 arches although there were originally 17 (quite where the other two went is a mystery), and has been widened twice, first in 1847 and then again in 1963, although the actual road has been narrowed once more to provide wider foot and cycleways across the river. The widenings were both on the upstream, south side, and have resulted in a full width of approximately 12m. The modern arches are easy to identify, with their concrete Vouissoirs, while the original arches are much more authentic looking pointed arches.

A Woolly Legend

Legend has it that the bridge was built on sacks of wool to support the foundations in the muddy river bed. This has generally been believed to be a myth derived from the medieval wealth of the town due to the wool trade. However, when the bridge was widened in 1963, wool was alledgedly found in the river bed, exactly where the legend said it should be.