Barnstaple Bridge

[Annad]

Hi everyone,
I wonder in anyone could please tell me if the Long Bridge in Barnstaple was know at any time as Stone Bridge and if either were near the quay of Barnstaple?

Thanks

Anna

[Old Bristolian]

I've checked 'Barnstaple, town on the Taw' by Lois Lamplugh and it seems always to have been called the Long Bridge - certainly there are references to it as such from the 14th century onwards. The quay of the town ran up to it until the 19th century, when Victorian buildings replaced that part nearest to the bridge. The quay is still only a hundred yards or so away,

Steve

[StintonLomas]

I haven't found a reference to Stone Bridge, but Wiki's Barnstaple entry has a picture showing it before widening and also mentions Pilton Bridge.
There is also a Wiki Barnstaple Long Bridge page giving more history.

https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/255712/133086/13/100688
This oldmap shows that there was a quay (Castle Quay) just downstream(NW) of the old curved railway bridge, the intervening station being called Barnstaple Quay Station.
If you follow the river further downstream the entrance to the R Yeo had a Draw Bridge for the railway, turning up the R Yeo you come to Rolles Quay on the N bank then Braunton Bridge, some distance above that is Pilton Quay and Pilton Bridge.


Bideford Long Bridge was originally built in wood and then later stone, possibly the same happened at Barnstaple and it could then have been unofficially known as the Stone Bridge.

[Old Bristolian]

Lamplugh's book points out that there is no record of a previous (possibly wooden) bridge at Barnstaple prior to the masony one. A painting of the early 18th century shows the quay as extending right up to the bridge.

What date are we talking about here, Anna?

Steve

[Annad]

Thank you for your help.

I did notice that there are a couple of smaller bridges further on from the Longbridge but I'm not sure if they would have been around in the 17th Century.

I'm trying to establish roughly where my merchant ancestor lived in Barnstaple. I'm using a document from 1697 and another from 1639 that possibly relate to the same property or could be two separate properties.

The 1697 document mentions 3 closes, 9 of land and pasture, estimation 10 acres with appurtances commonly called Stanbridge alias Stanborough now by the name of Bayly's Ground all within the parish of Barnstaple and sometime parcel of the manor of Rawleigh (then goes on with other buildings etc) and finishes with - lying and being near Stone Bridge in the Parish of Barnstaple.

I know it's difficult to find out anything being so far back but would appreciate any insight or knowledge anyone has about Barnstaple.

Thanks again

Anna

[StintonLomas]

Hi
The other bridges I mentioned are NOT over the River Taw, they are over it's tributary the R Yeo.
Interestingly your document mentions the Manor of Rawleigh.
Just upstream of Pilton Bridge in 1890 there  was a Raleigh factory north of which is Raleigh Park, Raleigh House  and ancient mansion (sign of).
I'm sure you are aware that the old pronunciation of Raleigh was RAWleigh.

https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/256506/134543/12/100687
If you use the link and get a blue screen just use the zoom out button(left of the map) until the oldmap shows and then remove the blue overcast by clicking the LH square under Contact Us.

[Old Bristolian]

I think StintonLomas is correct here and that the bridge referred to is the one marked Pilton Bridge on the map linked to. The boundary between the parishes of Pilton and Barnstaple was the river Yeo, which that bridge crosses, and it is quite likely that the area was within the manor of Raleigh. As the land mentioned was in the parish of Barnstaple, it must have been on the south side of the river as shown on the map. Today this is known as Yeo Vale. This bridge was rebuilt in sixteen seventy eight. Sorry about the words rather than numbers, but my iPad does that sometimes! I live in Barnstaple if there is anything else I can help with,

Steve

[Annad]

Hi Steve,

I remember you as you've helped me many times before and will never forget your great kindness in photographing a document for me.

What you and StintonLomas have told me is invaluable in helping  me locate my ancestor's  property and I often wondered whether it was one of the smaller bridges that the Bayley's lived near. I know their land was bordered by the land of William Gaye and I believe that the Gaye family lived in Joy street (or at least some of them did) so it makes complete sense that it would be over that side of Barnstaple.

Thanks again for your help and further offer of help - believe me there is always something I need to know about Barnstaple as the Bayley family are my obsession.

Anna

[Annad]

Thank you for your help StintonLomas and the link to the map of Barnstaple showing Raleigh/Rawleigh. I'm so pleased to be able to place my ancestor's property on the map at last.

Very kind regards

Anna