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Summary

The clapper bridge which is reported to have spanned the River Taw (Prowse 1890), 100m north of Steeperton Tor Mine (SX 68 NW 78) has now been completely destroyed. Several large granite slabs line the stream bed serving as a ford for the military track and these may have been robbed from the former bridge. Date of destruction is unknown.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthwork and structural remains of Knack Tin Mine (also known as Steeperton) 400 metres south-west of Steeperton Tor, an 18th century Tin Mine worked between the 1850s-1880s

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68NW8
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443702
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68NW/23

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CLAPPER BRIDGE (Post Medieval to Mid 20th Century - 1540 AD? (Between) to 1950 AD (Between))

Full description

Prowse, A. B., 1890, Notes on the Neighbourhood of Taw Marsh, North Dartmoor, 188 (Article in Serial). SDV239781.

Steeperton bridge, clapper bridge. An old bridge spanning River Taw in its narrow gorge at foot of Steeperton Tor. It crosses the river obliquely. There are three piers between the two terminal supports and they are composed of rather flat stones. The piers were 1.2 metres above water in a moderate stream. The central one is 1.0 metre wide, the two western ones 900 millimetres, and the two eastern ones 750 millimetres. Of the four spans between five supports, the two through which the stream was flowing are 1.4 metres, and 1.2 metres wide, while the end ones are only 750 millimetres. Length 8.85 metres, width 4.5 metres

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1979, SX68NW8 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV224965.

(16/08/1950) This bridge is now almost completely destroyed. The remains of the clapper bridge having fallen into the stream. It is impossible to give any measurements of the bridge.
(02/10/1979) There are now no upstanding remains of the bridge. Drill split slabs occur in the river and in the base of the ford and these may be relics of its demolition.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1985, Steeperton Tor Tin Mine, Dartmoor, 122 (Article in Serial). SDV310154.

The site of a former clapper bridge. A track used by the military crosses the ford at this point.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1993-1998, Dartmoor Royal Forest Project (Report - Survey). SDV346608.

(20/09/1993) SX 61458857. The clapper bridge which is reported to have spanned the River Taw (Prowse 1890), 100m north of Steeperton Tor Mine (SX 68 NW 78) has now been completely destroyed. Several large granite slabs line the stream bed serving as a ford for the military track and these may have been robbed from the former bridge. Date of destruction is unknown.

Francis, P., 2002, Okehampton Artillery Range, 16 (Report - Survey). SDV359222.

Clapper Bridge.

Ordnance Survey, 2018, MasterMap 2018 (Cartographic). SDV360652.

'Clapper Bridge (remains of)' and 'Ford' shown on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8679 - Okehampton Range: Management Survey
• EDV8291 - Okehampton Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey
• EDV8695 - Survey of Okehampton North Dartmoor Military Range

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