Birks Bridge

{{short description|Stone bridge in Cumbria, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox bridge

| name = Birks Bridge

| image = Parapet, Birks Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1806243.jpg

| caption =

| carries =

| crosses = River Duddon

| locale = Dunnerdale-with-Seathwaite, Cumbria, England

| design =

| length =

| width =

| height =

| mainspan =

| above =

| below =

| begin =

| complete =

| open =

| coordinates = {{coord|54.38383|-3.18069|region:GB-CMA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| embedded =

{{Designation list

| embed = yes

| designation1 = Grade II*

| designation1_offname = Birks Bridge

| designation1_date = 05-Mar-1990

| designation1_number = 1086826

}}

}}

Birks Bridge is a traditional stone-built bridge over the River Duddon in the English Lake District, in Dunnerdale-with-Seathwaite, Cumbria, standing at Grid Reference {{gbmappingsmall|SD239995}}.

History and construction

The bridge was built around the 18th century, with voussoirs and inbuilt drainage, and became a listed building in 1990.{{NHLE |num=1086826 |desc=Birks Bridge |grade=II |accessdate=18 September 2020}}

Aspect

Birks Bridge is a packhorse bridge of outstanding beauty, even for Lakeland.{{cite book|first=Brian |last=Conduit |title=Lake District Walks |publisher=Jarrold |date=1991 |page=67 |isbn=0711704635}} Hunter Davies described how "the hump-back stone bridge seems itself to be a work of nature, blending and melding so well with the rocks either side".{{cite book |first=Hunter |last=Davies |authorlink=Hunter Davies |title=A Walk Around the Lakes |publisher=Arrow Books |date=1989 |page=68 |isbn=0099504804}} Wainwright considered this a tribute to the artistry of craftsmen of former times.{{cite book |first=Alfred |last=Wainwright |authorlink=Alfred Wainwright |title=Wainwright in the Valleys of Lakeland |publisher=Michael Joseph |date=1996 |page=106 |isbn=0718134885}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|2|}}