The Story of Devon’s Bridges

Devon is a county of rivers and thus of bridges – there are over 5,000 all told. This is the story of how builders have developed Devon’s network of bridges to meet changing needs and greatly increased trade and traffic, adapting and adopting new materials and new engineering techniques as occasion offered and needs demanded. Illustrated with over 100 digital images, this talk takes the story through from the earliest river crossings – fords, stepping stones, clam and clapper bridges – through stone arched structures, turnpike bridges, railway bridges and viaducts; concluding with 20th and 21st century road and footbridges.