The Timber Trail – History in the Making

Weaving through the narrow lanes on western Dartmoor, I’m heading up a dead-end, single-track road. As I arrive at Lane End, the hard surfacing gives way to open windswept moorland. Oh no! I’ve gone too far! I need to go back and look for a small track … and there it is, guiding me between two age-old stone walls. It feels like I’m going back in time; this landscape has hardly changed in hundreds of years, but it is very inviting. The hand crafted boundaries take me on a gently curving path down to the higher reaches of the River Tavy and I can sense the many thousands of feet and hooves that have passed this way before me.

While Jim delivered more timber, he and Alasdair discussed the design of the repairs. Alasdair explained,

“all of the new woodwork is fixed beneath the bridge deck and the struts support the wobbly old uprights. It’s the right solution from an engineering point of view.”

Jim added,

“with all the boots that are going to come this way, it’s going to stand for some time yet. It’s also an important connection for the farmer. He brings his sheep across this bridge.”

An exuberant Alasdair added,

“I’ve never worked anywhere like this before, it’s beautiful and the history of the bridge is fascinating. I’m glad we’re keeping it going a bit longer.”

by Matt Parkins

The history of the bridge

This cement plaque is fixed to one of the bridge piers and tells the story of those who built it. ‘Erbaut’ translates from German to English as ‘constructed’. Throughout August and September 1946, prisoners of war (PoW) who were held in local camps, left this legacy which many of us still enjoy today. Their camp, No.673 was based at Home Park in Plymouth and at Bridestowe near Okehampton.

The structure comprises six piers, spanned by 10” i-section steel joists. The wooden bridge deck is fixed on top of the joists with wooden hand rails.