Tarr Steps, Grade I listed clapper bridge in Somerset, England, UK
Tarr Steps is a granite stone bridge in Withypool and Hawkridge near Dulverton, England, crossing the River Barle. The bridge consists of 17 large flat stone slabs laid end to end on stone posts in the water, stretching about 55 meters in length.
The exact age is uncertain, with some scholars dating the bridge to around 1000 BCE in the Bronze Age, others to medieval times around 1400 CE. Floods have washed away the stones several times, but the marked slabs have been carefully returned to their original positions each time.
The name may come from an old Celtic word for causeway, showing how long people have used this crossing. Legends tell that the Devil built the bridge to sunbathe on the stones, cursing anyone who crossed while he was resting there.
The stones are wide enough to walk on but can be slippery when wet, so take care. A parking area with toilets is nearby, and from there a path leads past the local inn down to the bridge.
Each stone slab has been numbered and marked so workers can return them correctly after floods. Some of these stones weigh about two tons, showing the effort needed to recover and reposition them after each storm.
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