The 15th or early 16th-century Devil’s Bridge, crossing the River Lune at Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria, was built by the Devil in one night, according to an 18th-century legend. An old woman’s cow had strayed to the far side of the river, and the Devil offered to build the bridge for her on condition that he could carry off the first living thing that crossed it.[1][2][a]Many bridges in European folklore are associated with the Devil. The general story is that the Devil offers to build a bridge in exchange for the soul of the first person to cross it, but is ultimately outwitted.[3] Local legend also has it that several large glacial deposits in the surrounding area, including the Great Stone of Fourstones, were dropped by the Devil on his way to build Devil’s Bridge.[4]
The bridge carried the Kendal to Skipton road until until the 1930s, when it was replaced by Stanley Bridge, 150 metres (492 ft) to the south, as its 4-metre (13 ft) wide roadway was proving to be too narrow for modern traffic.
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Architecture
The bridge is built of ashlar
Masonry of squared and finely cut or worked stone, commonly used for the facing of a building. and dressed stone, and has three segmental arches. The piers have triangular cutwaters to each side, which rise to canted pedestrian refuges at the road level. At the south side of the east end there is a sundial dated 1673.[2]
Considered to be “one of the finest medieval bridges in England”, Devil’s Bridge was designated a Grade I listed building
Structure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection. in 1983.[2]
Notes
| a | Many bridges in European folklore are associated with the Devil. The general story is that the Devil offers to build a bridge in exchange for the soul of the first person to cross it, but is ultimately outwitted.[3] |
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