See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Low coursed granite-built bridge along the Princetown Branch track bed. It had a north-west by south-east orientated underpass intended for livestock etc. The historic remains of the bridge consist of two opposing coursed granite rubble faces with curving wing walls running off the higher (south-east) corners and straight, splayed wing walls on the lower corners.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RAILWAY BRIDGE (XVIII to XIX - 1800 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2015 onwards, 2015 onward Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV362959.

Visible on the aerial photography.

Wakeham, C., 2016, Report on an Audit of Archaeological Features and Structures Relating to Railways and Tramways on Dartmoor Phase 1, DR+T_GWRP_069 (Report - Assessment). SDV360397.

SX 55439 71325. Low coursed granite-built bridge along the Princetown Branch track bed. It had a northwest-southeast orientated underpass intended for livestock etc. The historic remains of the bridge consist of two opposing coursed granite rubble faces with curving wing walls running off the higher (southeast) corners and straight, splayed wing walls on the lower corners. The track bed has a coursed stone facing either side in the short run up to the position of the bridge deck (no longer in situ). The interior of the bridge is 2.34m wide (northeast-southwest) and c.5m in length. It was c.1.2m high, to the former underside of the bridge deck. The lower wing walls extended a further c.2.1m to the northwest of the bridge and were splayed out to c.3.8m. The higher wing walls extended a further c.4.2m and curved out to a maximum splay of c.8.5m. There are two reused blocks with drilled holes within the structure of the bridge and a third lying amid the scattered debris on the ground. The reused stone near the southern corner of the bridge's interior face has two 3cm diameter holes set c.9cm apart. The stone at the western corner of the bridge's interior face has two 4cm diameter holes set 8cm apart amid a large rusty coloured stain. The third stone, lying on the ground on the lower side of the bridge, has two 3cm diameter holes set 9.5cm apart within an indented patch on the stone's surface. The third holed stone also has a rust stain. These stones may well be reused granite tramway setts from the old Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway. Originally, the bridge was probably fitted with a flat iron/steel deck and parapet. The interior of the bridge was filled in during the years after the railway line was abandoned.
The bridge is in a poor state and its form has become distorted since the abandonment of the Great Western Railway line. Much of its mortar pointing has gone and there has been disturbance to the stonework, particularly on the lower side. Bracken is encroaching on the southwest side.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.