Recent severe storms Austen and Boelo brought more than eight centimetres of overnight rain, forcing the River Barle to surge and sweep away the middle section of Tarr Steps. The mortarless structure, which spans 55 metres across 17 arches, relies entirely on gravity and the sheer weight of flat stones that weigh up to two tonnes each. In addition to displacing the massive slabs, floodwaters wedged fallen trees and heavy debris into the surviving stone piers, prompting the closure of both the footbridge and the adjacent ford. Officials anticipate prolonged recovery and rebuilding efforts for the numbered blocks as winter approaches.
Key points
Severe flood damage has dismantled the ancient mortarless crossing five times over the la…: Severe flood damage has dismantled the ancient mortarless crossing five times over the last nine years.
The structure relies entirely on bulk and weight to stay intact, utilizing flat gritstone…: The structure relies entirely on bulk and weight to stay intact, utilizing flat gritstones that can weigh up to two tonnes.
Recovery and reconstruction of the numbered stone blocks will be delayed as winter approa…: Recovery and reconstruction of the numbered stone blocks will be delayed as winter approaches.
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Fog cloaked the combe as we walked down to the River Barle, and for the first time in months I wished I were wearing gloves. A red kite wheeled overhead, the dull copper colour of its underparts matching the autumn leaves still clinging to the oaks. Red kites are still fairly uncommon on Exmoor, though their numbers have increased recently as the species pushes west. Several pheasants whirred past, calling loudly in alarm: they are also more numerous now, due to the spread of game-shooting estates.
We were heading for Tarr Steps, the longest clapper bridge in Britain, an ancient footbridge nearly 55 metres long, with 17 arches braced across the Barle. It is constructed of pillars of piled rock set about two metres apart, spanned by huge, flat gritstones weighing up to two tonnes each. The whole edifice is held together by bulk and weight, without the aid of mortar, cement or ironwork. Its exact age is uncertain, but the existing structure is considered to be a medieval improvement of a simpler bronze age crossing.
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