Gents Mag 1753 p.355

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1753 p.355
Devil's Bridge   Kirby Lonsdale
	Devil's Bridge, Kirby Lonsdale Mr URBAN, HAving lately had an opportunity of viewing the bridge at Willington, over the river Lone, near Kirkby Lonsdale, which for its antiquity and excellent workmanship exceeds any in the N. of England, and as it may add a little to your history of bridges, I thought it would not be unacceptable. It is the opinion of some judicious persons that this bridge has been a work of the Romans, but I rather think it to be of later date. 'Tis all built of a fine free stone, truly squared, and almost all of a size, the joints are so firm and even that in some places they are hardly to be discovered, and the arches are really admirable. Whatever we moderns may think of ourselves, or whatever mean ideas we may have of these dark ages, here is both strength and beauty. The arches are all turned with mouldings at the edges, and 3 gutters in the middle, near 8 inches square, as is partly shewn at B, but to give a plainer idea of it, at A is a section of the arch, supposed to be cut in the middle. To be short, the whole design hath been executed with the utmost exactness both for strenth and beauty. The water under the arch at C, is five yards deep in summer, when the river is very low, and in winter 'tis almost as deep again, and vastly rapid. (See the Plate.) Yours, &c. S. PARROT. Willington is probably Whittington, a nearby parish in Lancashire
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	-- Devil's Bridge

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