Loyn Bridge
| Loyn Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Other name(s) | Loyne Bridge |
| Carries | Minor road |
| Crosses | River Lune |
| Locale | Lancashire, England |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| Heritage status |
|
| Coordinates | 54°07′18″N 2°38′30″W / 54.12175°N 2.64157°WCoordinates: 54°07′18″N 2°38′30″W / 54.12175°N 2.64157°W |
Loyn Bridge (or Loyne Bridge) crosses the River Lune, carrying a minor road between the villages of Hornby and Gressingham in Lancashire, England. The present bridge replaces an older bridge, which is thought to have been constructed with timber decking between stone piers.[1] There is evidence that the river was forded here before a bridge was built.[2] The date of the building of the present bridge is unknown; it is considered to have been after 1591, when the previous bridge was described as being "in a dangerous condition".[1][2][3] A date of 1684 has been suggested, but petitions regarding the bridge put before the Quarter Sessions between 1650 and 1750 make no mention of a new bridge between these dates.[1] The bridge was paid for by the County of Lancashire, and later the responsibility for maintenance and repairs was transferred to the Lonsdale Hundred.[1]
The bridge is constructed in sandstone blocks, and consists of three segmental arches with triangular cutwaters containing refuges for pedestrians.[4] The arches measure 53 feet (16.2 m), 62 feet 6 inches (19.1 m) and 52 feet (15.8 m) respectively. The carriageway is 12 feet (3.7 m) wide, and the maximum width of the bridge at the points of the piers is 33 feet 6 inches (10.2 m). It is described as being "surprisingly impressive for a route that has little significance nowadays".[3] There has been little change to it since it was built, other than replacing the parapet with more modern stonework, and replacing the original paving of the carriageway with a tarmacadam surface. When the bridge was surveyed in 1998, it was found to be adequate to carry vehicles of 40 tonnes.[1] It is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building,[4][5] and is a scheduled monument.[5][6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Silcock, Norman (2001), Maritime Lancaster and the River Lune: The Loyn Bridge (CD), Lancaster: Lancaster Maritime Museum
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Scheduled Ancient Monument - Castle Stede, Lancashire County Council, retrieved 7 August 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Loyn Bridge, Engineering Timelines, retrieved 7 August 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 English Heritage, "Loyne Bridge (1071682)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 August 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Loyn Bridge (42928). PastScape. English Heritage. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑ English Heritage, "Loyn Bridge (1003129)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 August 2012