Editing River Parrett (section)

== Bridges and structures ==
Much of the history of the river is defined by its bridges, which are described here from mouth to source. The Drove Bridge, which marks the current extent of the Port of Bridgwater, is the nearest to the mouth and the newest road bridge to cross the river. With a span of {{convert|184|ft|m}}, the bridge was constructed as part of the Bridgwater Northern Distributor road scheme (1992), and provides a navigable channel which is {{convert|66|ft|m}} wide with {{convert|8.2|ft|m}} headroom at normal spring high tides.<ref name=DroveBridge>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1995/Uksi_19950270_en_3.htm#end|title=Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 270, NDR confirmation order|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=22 December 2009}}</ref> Upstream of this is the [[retractable bridge|retractable]] or [[Telescopic Bridge, Bridgwater|Telescopic Bridge]], built in 1871 to the design of [[Sir Francis Fox]], the engineer for the Bristol and Exeter Railway. It carried a [[broad gauge]] (later [[standard gauge]]) railway siding over the river to the docks, and was movable, to allow boats to proceed up river. An {{convert|80|ft|m|adj=on}} section of railway track to the east of the bridge could be moved sideways, so that the main {{convert|127|ft|m|adj=on}} girders could be retracted, creating a navigable channel which was {{convert|78|ft|m}} wide.<ref name="otter"/> It was manually operated for the first eight months, and then powered by a steam engine, reverting to manual operation in 1913, when the steam engine failed. The bridge was last opened in 1953, and the traverser section was demolished in 1974, but public outcry at this resulted in the bridge being listed as a [[scheduled monument]], and the rest of the bridge was kept.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/11837|title=Rail bridge over River Parrett, Bridgwater|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=21 December 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003092834/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/11837 |archive-date= 3 October 2016}}</ref> It was later used as a road crossing, until the construction of the Chandos road bridge alongside it, and is now only used by pedestrians. Parts of the steam engine were moved to Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum in 1977.<ref name=otter/>

The next bridge is the Town Bridge. There has been a bridge here since the 13th century, when Bridgwater was granted a charter by [[John, King of England|King John]]. The present bridge was designed by R. C. Else and G. B. Laffan, and the {{convert|75|ft|m|adj=on}} [[cast iron]] structure was completed in 1883.<ref>{{cite book |title=Bridgewater |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18640 |volume=A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6|last1=Dunning |first1=RW |first2=C R |last2=Elrington |first3=A P |last3=Baggs |first4=M C |last4=Siraut |year=1992 |publisher=British History Online; Victoria County History |access-date=21 December 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303083620/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18640 |archive-date= 3 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="ioetownbridge">{{NHLE|num=1187392 |desc=Town Bridge |access-date=21 December 2009 }}</ref> It replaced an earlier iron bridge, which was completed in 1797 and was the first cast iron bridge to be built in [[Somerset]].<ref name="ioetownbridge"/> The stone abutments of that bridge were reused for the later bridge, which was the only road crossing of the river in Bridgwater until 1958.<ref name=otter/> Above the bridge there were two shoals, called The Coals and The Stones, which were a hazard to barge traffic on the river, and [[wikt:bargee|bargees]] had to navigate the river at high tide, when there was enough water to carry them over these obstructions.<ref name="Haskell">{{Harvnb |Haskell|2007| p=108}}</ref> In March 1958 a new reinforced concrete road bridge, the Blake Bridge, was opened as part of a bypass to take traffic away from the centre of Bridgwater.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fitzhugh|1993|p=93}}</ref> It now carries the A38 and A39 roads. At the southern edge of Bridgwater is a bridge which carries the Bristol and Exeter Railway across the River Parrett. Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed a brick bridge, known as the [[Bridgwater railway station#Somerset Bridge|Somerset Bridge]], with a {{convert|100|ft|m|adj=on}} span but a rise of just {{convert|12|ft|m|1}}. Work started in 1838 and was completed in 1841. Brunel left the centring scaffold in place, as the foundations were still settling, but had to remove it in 1843 to reopen the river for navigation. Brunel demolished the brick arch and replaced it with a timber arch within six months without interrupting the traffic on the railway. This was in turn replaced in 1904 by a steel girder bridge.<ref name=MacD>{{harvnb|MacDermot|1931|pp=135–137}}</ref> Slightly further east is a modern concrete bridge which carries the M5 motorway over both the river and the railway line. It was started in 1971 and opened in 1973.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18640|chapter=Bridgwater|last1=Dunning |first1=RW |first2=C R |last2=Elrington |first3=A P |last3=Baggs |first4=M C |last4=Siraut |year=1992 |title=A History of the County of Somerset |volume=6: ''Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes)'' |publisher=British History Online |access-date=11 February 2010 |isbn=0-7509-0192-6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303083620/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18640 |archive-date= 3 March 2010}}</ref>

Before 1826, the bridge at Burrowbridge, just below the junction with the River Tone, consisted of three arches, each only a little wider than the barges that used the river. They restricted the flow of water in times of flood and made navigation difficult. The bridge was highlighted in a report made by William Armstrong in 1824, as a factor which would prevent the River Tone Navigation competing with the new Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, then being built.<ref>{{Harvnb |Haskell|2007| p=32}}</ref> An act of Parliament{{which|date=February 2025}} was obtained in 1824 by the Turnpike Commissioners, authorising the construction of a new bridge and the removal of the old. A design for a {{convert|70|ft|m|adj=on}} single-span bridge in cast iron was dropped because of the cost of cast iron at the time, and instead a stone bridge was built, which was completed in 1826.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haskell|2007|p=110}}</ref><ref name="completesomerset">{{harvnb|Bush|1994|pp=65–66}}</ref> This is the longest single span masonry road bridge in the county, and was also the last [[toll bridge]] in Somerset until it was "freed" in 1946.<ref name="curio"/><ref>{{NHLE|num=1344608|desc=Burrow Bridge at NGR ST 3075|access-date=30 November 2008}}</ref> It now carries the [[A361 road]]. Just below the bridge there was a shoal of rocks and stones, which was also mentioned in Armstrong's report, but no action was taken to remove it. Except at spring tides, Burrowbridge was the normal upper limit for barges riding the incoming tide. Above here, horses were used to pull the boats, either towards Langport or along the River Tone towards Taunton.<ref name="Haskell" />

Stanmoor lock was constructed above the junction with the River Tone, but all traces of it have gone. Next to the pedestrian bridge at [[Stathe]] four living willow cones, which were woven in 1997 by Clare Wilks, have now rooted and sprouted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arts & Crafts Along the Trail|url=http://www.riverparrett-trail.org.uk/artscrafts/|publisher=The River Parrett Trail|access-date=5 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518001715/http://www.riverparrett-trail.org.uk/artscrafts/|archive-date=18 May 2009}}</ref> Oath lock no longer functions as a lock, but the sluice is used to regulate the river levels.<ref name="eelodyssey">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/worldonthemove/reports/the-odyssey-of-the-eel/|title=The Odyssey of the Eel|date=15 October 2008|work=Radio 4|publisher=BBC |access-date=28 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118053012/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/worldonthemove/reports/the-odyssey-of-the-eel|archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref> Below Langport, the river is crossed by a lattice girder bridge, carrying the [[Reading to Taunton Line|Taunton to Westbury railway line]], which approaches the crossing on multi-arched viaducts.<ref name=body&Gallop-35>{{Harvnb|Body|Gallop|2006|p=35}}</ref> This is followed by the derelict remains of the Langport lock and sluice.<ref name=body&Gallop-35/>

[[File:Great Bow Bridge.jpg|alt=A stone three-arch bridge over water. On the bridge is a small blue lorry. Either side of the river is vegetation and to the right of the bridge houses.|thumb|Great Bow Bridge at [[Langport]]]]

At Langport, the Great Bow Bridge, which now carries the [[A378 road (Great Britain)|A378]], is a three-arched bridge, constructed under the terms of the [[Parrett Navigation Act 1836]] ([[6 & 7 Will. 4]]. c. ci). Completed in 1841 at a cost of £3,749,<ref name=body16-20/> it replaced the previous medieval bridge, with its nine tiny arches, all too small to allow navigation. A bridge at this site was first mentioned in 1220.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1235760 |desc=Great Bow Bridge |access-date=22 December 2009 }}</ref> The medieval bridge consisted of a total of 31 arches, of which nine crossed the river, and 19 of the original arches were located by ground-penetrating radar in 1987, buried beneath the road which runs from Great Bow Bridge to Little Bow Bridge.<ref name=otter/> The [[Warehouse, Langport|Warehouse]] in Langport was built in the late 18th century of [[English bond]] red brick, with [[Flemish bond]] extensions. It has clay plain tile roofs with [[Hip roof|hipped]] ends. It was built by the [[Parrett Navigation Company]], a trading company owned by Vincent Stuckey and [[Walter Bagehot]], on the banks of the River.<ref name="sbpt"/> When the river became unnavigable, the building was no longer needed, and it was eventually abandoned. The Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development, which became the Ecos Trust, purchased the site, designated as a [[Brownfield land|brown field site]], in February 2003, and worked with [[Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust]], [[English Heritage]] and local councils to redevelop it into a craft, heritage learning and small business centre, with the surrounding land being used for an eco-friendly housing development.<ref name="sbpt">{{cite web |url=http://www.sbpt.info/the-warehouse-great-bow-yard_langport.php |title=The Warehouse, Great Bow Yard |publisher=Somerset Building Preservation Trust |access-date=7 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930061152/http://www.sbpt.info/the-warehouse-great-bow-yard_langport.php |archive-date=30 September 2012 }}</ref> It is a grade II [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Former Stuckey and Bagehot Warehouse |num=1271727 |access-date=5 November 2006 }}</ref>

[[File:Parrett Ironworks.jpg|alt=Two culverts opening into a river. In the background are industrial and residential stone buildings|thumb|left|Parrett Ironworks from the Carey's Mill Bridge]]

The newest bridge across the Parrett is Cocklemoor Bridge, a pedestrian footbridge close to the Great Bow Bridge. It was erected in 2006 and forms part of the [[River Parrett Trail]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5401180.stm |title=Bridge is centrepiece of trail |publisher=BBC News |date=3 October 2006 |access-date=15 December 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109112155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5401180.stm |archive-date= 9 November 2006 }}</ref> The next bridge upstream is Bicknell's bridge, which was formerly known as Bickling bridge, which carries the road from [[Huish Episcopi]] to Muchelney. It replaced a footbridge in 1829 or 1830.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66482 |title=Parishes: Huish Episcopi |last1=Dunning |first1=R.W. |first2=A. P. |last2=Baggs |first3=R. J. E. |last3=Bush |first4=Margaret |last4=Tomlinson |work=A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 3 (1974), pp. 1–13 |publisher=British History Online |access-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525181903/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66482 |archive-date=25 May 2011 }}</ref> At Muchelney the Westover Bridge carries a minor road over the river, and another minor road crosses on the Thorney Bridge close to the Thorney (or silent) Mill and a lock. The mill, with an iron overshot wheel, was built to grind corn in 1823.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1057718 |desc=Thorney Mill |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> Another bridge and mill occur further upstream at Gawbridge west of Martock, where the mill has been the subject of a feasibility study by the [[South Somerset Hydropower Group]].<ref>{{cite web|title=South and West Somerset WFD Management Area Abstraction Licensing Strategy |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/292763/LIT_7607_0c5611.pdf |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=11 May 2015 |page=15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091354/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/292763/LIT_7607_0c5611.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2015 }}</ref> Carey's Mill Bridge was built of [[Ham stone]] in the 18th century and named after Carey's Mill, which originally occupied the site.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1266523 |desc=Carey's Mill Bridge |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> It is surrounded by a collection of buildings known as the [[Parrett Iron Works]],<ref>{{NHLE|num=1225080 |desc=Parrett Iron Works |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> founded in 1855<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/52616 |title=Former rope walk, about 65 metres south-east of main building, Parrett Iron Works, Carey's Mill |work=Somerset Historic Environment Record |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003100416/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/52616 |archive-date= 3 October 2016 }}</ref> on the site of a former [[snuff (tobacco)|snuff]] mill,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/searchdetail.aspx?id=7888&crit=Mill+at+Parrett+Iron+Works|title=Mill at Parrett Iron Works, Martock, Somerset|work=Heritage Explorer|publisher=Historic England|access-date=9 May 2015}}</ref> which included a foundry, with a prominent chimney,<ref>{{NHLE|num=1225752 |desc=Boiler Chimney |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> [[ropewalk]],<ref>{{NHLE|num=1225754 |desc=Former Rope Walk etc, Carey's Mill |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> workshops<ref>{{NHLE|num=1266185 |desc=Workshop buildings etc, Carey's Mill. |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1225753 |desc=Workshop building etc. Carey's Mill |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> and several smaller workshops and cottages.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1266186 |desc=Nos. 1 & 2 Parrett Works Cottages |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1225756 |desc=Nos. 3 & 4 Parrett Works Cottages |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1225757 |desc=Nos. 5 & 6 Parrett Works Cottages |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1225078 |desc=Carey's Mill Cottage |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> The sluice which powered the waterwheel<ref>{{NHLE|num=1266524 |desc=Waterwheel house |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> and sluice keeper's cottage still exist.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1266221 |desc=Sluice and sluice keepers house |access-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> Further south the river flows under the A303 near [[Norton-sub-Hamdon]] and the [[A356 road|A356]] near Chedington.