Long Bridge, on the Plym ([1835])

THE SOUTH DEVON MONTHLY MUSEUM. PLYMOUTH, MAY 1ST, 1835. VOL. V. No. 29. PRICE SIXPENCE. pp. 193-195.LONG BRIDGE. THE Bridge, here delineated, was built in the year 1753, at the expense of the county; and is now about to be taken down and re-erected, being ill-adapted to the increased number of carriages and horses which now pass over it, and especially to the degree of velocity with which our mail and other coaches now travel. Its width is only ten feet, and its position, at a right angle across the river, renders it peculiarly incommodious, not to say dangerous. It has been absurdly enough, continued to be called the New Bridge, in contradistinction to the older bridge across the Plym, higher up on that river, and called Plym Bridge. Those who ought to have given it a name, neglected to do so, but it is hoped that a name will be now given; though it must be acknowledged that the bridges in its vicinity have superseded the more obvious names of Plym and Plympton. This name has been sometimes confounded with Long Bridge, which is properly applicable only, to the raised road or bridge over the marshes; extending from the bridge over the stream that flows by the side of Marsh House to New Bridge. Before the turnpike road was constructed here in 1758, there was merely a beaten track leading across these marshes (subject therefore to inundation, and other impediments) communicating on one side with the road leading by Leigham Gate to Knackersknowle Village, and on the other with Plympton, by a ford across the river, and thence by a narrow lane to Plympton, through the Tory (then running across a lane called Lincotta Lane), and thence through Underwood to that town. In 1758 the wants of the increased population required better accommodation, and an act of parliament was applied for to constitute the gentlemen of the country, and adjacent towns, a body of trustees; authorizing them to collect tolls from all persons using the road, and to widen and improve the then almost impassable highways. Before this bridge was built, the most accustomed road to Plympton was across the sands from Crabtree to Blaxton, under Saltram, and thence by a road to Underwood, since thrown into Saltram grounds. But as this road was dependant on the state of the tide, it was of course extremely inconvenient, and frequently dangerous. When therefore a new road to Exeter became necessary, great controversy arose whether that road should be carried from Crabtree over a bridge to be built at Blaxton, thence and through Underwood and Plympton, to Ivy Bridge; or over the New Bridge, and through Ridgeway to Ivy Bridge. The dispute was conducted with much unnecessary acrimony and ill will, and sadly divided the families of the district. At the head of the successful party was Sir John Rogers; at the head of the defeated one Mr. Parker, of Saltram. Not content with the direful conflicts which turnpike meetings afford to provincial oratory; lampoons and squibs were most unsparingly issued, and some of them so humorously written, as to have been long retained in the memory of the men of that day: but Time, the assuager of all conflicts, whether concerning highways or empires has long since laid the heroes of this scene, as well as their lampoons, in the silent grave, and smiles in scorn at the ephemeral contest. But to us, men with earthly passions, it does seem strange, that a line so comparatively level and straight as the rejected one, should have given way to the adopted circuitous and hilly road. However, it is but fair to presume that its supporters were deterred from adopting the rejected ones by considerations of expense, as it is obvious, that two bridges and an embankment at Blaxton, must have occasioned a considerable expenditure, and that such hills as occur from Plympton St. Mary Bridge to Chaddlewood Lodge were not then deemed impediments to the existing mode of travelling. The far greater part of the yeomanry were furiously opposed to all tolls. (Short sighted men! ! ! are they yet cured ?) And therefore the popular side was probably with the Rogers' party, as ulterior expence [sic] is rarely considered in popular meetings, the immediate burthen being chiefly adverted to.In our next number, it is our design to give an engraving of the intended bridge, with some account of its dimensions, its probable expense, period of completion, and of those who have contracted to execute it.[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Wood engr

91x132mm