1000 BC

Tarr Steps Clapper bridge, possibly constructed around 1000 BC, The stone slabs each weigh up to1 or 2 tons. It is 180 feet (55m) long and has 17 spans, Now a designated grade 1 listed building plus it's a scheduled ancient monument,
It crosses the River Barle in Exmoor National Park, Somerset, England,

This was originally posted in 2014, large may be better

Line en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarr_Steps
Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © all rights reserved.

©UdoSm, Deborah Lundbech, Leon_Vienna, Richard Chamberlain and 37 other people have particularly liked this photo

55 comments - The latest ones

slgwv ^club

Is it still open for foot travel?

10 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to slgwv ^club

Thank you , Yes open for all to cross and free of charge

10 years ago.

Jaap van 't Veen ^club

Amazing story about this bridge. Nice shot.
Bridges, Ponts, Brücken, Mosty, Puentes, Pontes, 橋, ponti

10 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Jaap van 't Veen ^club

Thank you Jaap, it is a wonderful place and not commercialised at all

10 years ago.

Ecobird ^club

Nice shot hon. Must take some force to wash it away.

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Ecobird ^club

Thank you, this winters rain was so exceptional .

9 years ago.

Roger Dodger ^club

Nice image; Interesting and you still see something 'new' everyday!

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Roger Dodger ^club

Thank you Roger, Learning new things is one of the great things about this site

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club

Thanks Les, the location is not to touristy

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club

Thank you Joan, It's not on the tourist routes but is an lovely place to visit, Our ancestors had a lot more intelligence than they were given credit for.

9 years ago.

Philippe_28

Very interesting !

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Philippe_28

Thank you Philippe , a wonderful place

9 years ago.

Esther ^club

Amazing structure and history.

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Esther ^club

Thank you amazing bridge and location

9 years ago.

Fantasyfan

What a lovely bridge

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club

Lovely and very old, Thank you Sanna.

9 years ago.

William Sutherland ^club

Magnificent shot!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance

9 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to William Sutherland ^club

|Many thanks William, really appreciated.

9 years ago.

* ઇઉ * ^club

Admirable achievement of our ancestors!
Great capture!

6 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to * ઇઉ * ^club

This really was a magnificent build. thank you.

6 years ago.

Gabi Lombardo ^club

an interesting location with a beautiful old and still open bridge!!

4 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Gabi Lombardo ^club

Thank you Gabi, still in use as you say.

4 years ago.

Malik Raoulda ^club

Remarquable et exceptionnel ce pont..!
Bon Weekend.

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Malik Raoulda ^club

Thank you Malik, very old.

3 years ago.

Schussentäler ^club

a fascinating bridge

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Schussentäler ^club

Thank you, I also find it fascinating

3 years ago.

Jocelyne Villoing ^club

Eh bien il est encore là pour longtemps, il a une grande histoire aussi !*****************
Bonne soirée Roger.

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Jocelyne Villoing ^club

Many thanks Jocelyne, Bridge builders of old must have been great craftsmen

3 years ago.

Marie-claire Gallet

Gorgeous shot, Roger !! Have a nice week-end and keep safe and healthy !!!!!!

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Marie-claire Gallet

Thank you Marie-claire, really appreciated.

3 years ago.

Armando Taborda ^club

Incredible how a bridge so primitive lasts for so long!

Great pic, Roger!

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Armando Taborda ^club

Thank you Armando, wonder how many repairs it's had over the centuries.

3 years ago.

Armando Taborda ^club has replied to Roger (Grisly) ^club

...even so...

3 years ago.

Andy Rodker ^club

Fine shot of this interesting and pleasing-looking bridge!

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Andy Rodker ^club

Thank you Andy, one of the jewels of Exmoor,

3 years ago. Edited 3 years ago.

Nicole Merdrignac ^club

Photo très intéressante et rare. Nicole. Bon weekend.

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club

Really kind Nicole, Thank you.

3 years ago.

vero ^club

une histoiire exceptionnelle une photo incroyable et insolite, Roger, Bon weekend Bisous

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to vero ^club

Thank you for the generous comments and the good wishes Vero, xxx

3 years ago.

Diana Australis ^club

I just had a look at it large...it is an extraordinary piece of work. What a historical gem. The fact that it has survived is testament to both the original builders, and to those who have kept it in order.
Have a safe and pleasant weekend, Roger

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Diana Australis ^club

Many thaks D, It is indeed an amazing structure but climate change is having an effect, over the past few years the bridge has been damaged a number of times after torrential rains on Exmoor put the river under pressure, all the stones are now numbered so rebuilding damaged sections has become easier and therefore much faster.

3 years ago.

HappySnapper

Amazing construction Roger and to have lasted so long is equally amazing.

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to HappySnapper

Many thanks Maurice, maintaining the structure has become neccessary more often with climate change as frequent torrential rain on the moor puts the river under pressure especially when trees wash down stream ( as in the image), on occasions sections have washed away but a stone numbering system has been introduced which has made repairs much easier.

3 years ago.

Jean

I've been across a few clapper bridges but never one on this scale. It's an amazing structure. It cheers me that ordinary people found ways to build this so long ago and have kept it in working order from then till now.

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Jean

You have to admire the ingenuity and skills of medieval times and it must have been an important route to warrent such effort. Thank you Jean

3 years ago.

tiabunna ^club

That's quite a remarkable structure and one has to wonder how it was done originally. A well taken image too.

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to tiabunna ^club

Thank you George, indeed lifting 2 ton stones in a river was no mean feat but getting them to site in the first place must have been a real challenge.

3 years ago.

Pam J ^club

I HAVE STOOD THERE !!

GLORIOUS

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Pam J ^club

Thank you Pam, it is a wonderful old bridge in beautiful Exmoor.

3 years ago.

Ulrich John ^club

That’s really interesting !

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Ulrich John ^club

Thank you Ulrich, I am in awe of the.men that built it.

3 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club

A wonderful picture Roger. I have walked across it once.

3 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club has replied to Rosalyn Hilborne ^club

It's not that far from us so we normally visit in winter, Thank you for the nice comment Rosa.

3 years ago.

©UdoSm ^club

Ooh, how interesting to see the technology from a prehistoric time.
Thank's Roger...

2 years ago.

Thank you Udo, it's longevity is a tribute to the build and the design.

2 years ago.

Sign-in to write a comment.

		Page color
		Comments Panel
		Screen Margins
▼▲
		Widescreen

Ξ	Frame Options
3 - +

← Group: 500+ visits

Location

See also...

Keywords

Authorizations, license

1000 BC