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Postbridge clapper bridge

Clapper bridge

East Dart River at Postbridge

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A granite river crossing
Clapper bridge

The finest example of a clapper bridge in Devon.

200There are thirty clapper bridges in Dartmoor but the finest is at Postbridge. They date back to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries when tin workers and farmers set up the bridges to cross the many small rivers running through the moors.
 
They are simple beam bridges. The example at Postbridge has four large granite slabs resting on three granite piers. The large slabs are each over 4 metres long and 2 metres wide. They weigh over 8 tons each.

Submitted by: Andrew Hunt, 05 October 2003

Visit these web sites for:

  • a technical summary of the bridge in a site about structures which includes images,
  • information about Dartmoor granite which includes useful links.

    See also: Rocks and minerals Transport

  • Project sponsors:

    City sponsors:
    At Bristol