Totnes Bridge
Totnes Bridge | |||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||
Totnes Bridge from Brutus Bridge | |||||||
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Location | |||||||
Totnes | |||||||
County | |||||||
Devon | |||||||
Highway Authority | |||||||
Devon | |||||||
Opening Date | |||||||
1828 | |||||||
Additional Information | |||||||
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Totnes Bridge carries Fore Street across the River Dart in the centre of Totnes. There is also a newer bridge to the north, which carries the A385 on the route to Plymouth.
History
The current Totnes Bridge was built in 1828 on the site of a much older structure which had stood since medieval times. By all accounts, it was built from Oak and had a chantry chapel at one end. This chapel was maintained by donations towards the upkeep of the bridge, and such donations were freely given as it was claimed that they would reduce the donator's time in purgatory by 40 days!
Totnes Bridge
The older of the two bridges now spanning the Dart in Totnes was built in 1828 by William Fowler from Exeter. He also won the competition to design the new London Bridge, before it was passed over to John Rennie whose fame and name were deemed more important. The bridge consists of three stone arches across the river and while it appears solidly built, it has some delicate classical detailing marking out pilasters and cornices.
The bridge was listed in 1952, and is a grade 2* structure.
Brutus Bridge
The main A385 road through Totnes now bypasses the town centre to the north, and so uses the newer 1982 bridge to cross the River Dart. This name commemorates the alleged landing of the mythical King Brutus, who first landed on British soil at Totnes, allegedly!
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Totnes Bridge | ||||||
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