Bellever Clapper Bridge
| Bellever Clapper Bridge | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 Bellever Clapper Bridge | |
| Location | |
| Type: | clapper bridge |
| Crossing: | East Dart River |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SX65847733 |
| Location: | 50°34’49"N, 3°53’46"W |
| Structure | |
| Type: | clapper bridge |
| History | |
| Built Unknown | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | incomplete |
The Bellever Clapper Bridge is a remarkable clapper bridge, of huge granite slabs, which spans the East Dart River at Bellever, a hamlet on Dartmoor in Devon.
The bridge is of unknown age but appears to be medieval in origin: the construction is too detailed and tooled to be prehistoric. It consists of three piers of large granite blocks standing in the river, with granite slabs lying across them to form the bridge. Originally there were four spans, but only two slaps remain in place. The main, central slab is gone, presumably carried away at some time for re-use as it is not found lying in the river.
Historical context
The bridge is likely to have been on the medieval track known as the lich way which led from the 'Ancient Tenements on the Forest' to the church at Lydford,[1] along which bodies were carried for burial at Dartmoor's parish church.
Today the East Dart is crossed by a modern (18th century) bridge immediately upstream of the clapper bridge.
References
- ↑ Groves
- National Heritage List 1305963: Clapper bridge – Bellever
- Groves, R.: 'Dartmoor A New Study in Roads And Tracks'