Oxygrains Old Bridge 1

    This is a typical packhorse bridge of the district crossing the Oxygrains Clough by a single arch. The bridge is 8ft wide with practically no parapet. The arch is built of ashlar, one of two of the stones being 4ft in length and extending halfway across the width of the bridge. Historically it is interesting as being on the line of the packhorse roads by which cloth was carried from Yorkshire into Lancashire. These tracks are now grass grown and difficult to trace. Should the bridge disappear the memory of the roads might be lost.

    Single arched bridge, arch comprising 12 stones on each side of keystone. The stones are well cut on soffit but rough on road surface. No parapet wall at all and bridge is now only a single thickness of stones. Only little evidence of track which led to bridge now well below the present road surface.

    Only the arch remains of Oxygrains Bridge which carried the old bridle track used by packhorses between Yorkshire and Lancashire over the Oxygrains Beck. The bridge is about 9ft wide and 14ft from bank to bank. the parapets have gone but it is still possible to walk across the bridge. The track of the old bridleway may be traced descending the hillside from the road above which must have been built to replace it and now crosses a newer bridge some 50yds away. The track probably continued down the valley and over Ripponden Bridge.

    www.calderdale.gov.uk/environment/conservation/ancient-mo...

    Comments and faves

    1. Home Land & Sea (23 months ago | reply)

      Old and beautiful ... love the composition :)

    2. This photo was invited and added to the Tracks to the Past group.

    3. JenthePen (20 months ago | reply)

      Gorgeous wee bridge.
      Thanks for sharing your journey with Tracks to the Past.

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