Terras Bridge
{{distinguish|text = the bridge over the River Fal at Terras}}
{{Short description|Road bridge over the River Looe in Cornwall, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox bridge
| name = Terras Bridge
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Terras Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 2361033.jpg
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption = The downstream face of Terras Bridge
| coordinates = {{coord|50.3739|-4.4643|display=inline, title}}
| os_grid_reference = SX 24866 55572
| qid =
| refs =
| carries = Unclassified road
| crosses = East Looe River
| locale = Terras Pill, Morval, Cornwall
| starts =
| ends =
| official_name =
| other_name = Terras Pill Bridge
| named_for =
| owner =
| maint =
| heritage =
| id =
| id_type =
| website =
| preceded =
| followed =
| design =
| material = stone
| material1 =
| material2 =
| length =
| width =
| height =
| depth =
| mainspan =
| number_spans = 2
| piers_in_water =
| load =
| clearance_above =
| clearance_below =
| lanes =
| life =
| first_length =
| first_diameter =
| second_length =
| second_diameter =
| third_length =
| third_diameter =
| capacity =
| architect =
| designer =
| contracted_designer =
| winner =
| engineering =
| builder =
| fabricator =
| begin =
| complete = {{circa|1825}}
| cost =
| open =
| inaugurated =
| rebuilt =
| collapsed =
| closed =
| replaces =
| replaced_by =
| traffic =
| toll =
| extra =
| embedded = {{Infobox historic site
| embed = yes
| locmapin =
| designation1 = Grade II
| designation1_offname = Terras Pill Bridge
| designation1_date = 18 December 1985
| designation1_number = {{listed building England|1329293}}
}}
}}
Terras Bridge, also known as Terras Pill Bridge, is a road bridge near Morval in Cornwall, England. Built in {{circa|1825}}, the Grade II listed bridge crosses the tidal East Looe River, and is adjacent to the Liskeard and Looe Railway and the remains of the Liskeard and Looe Union Canal.
Description
Built in {{circa|1825}}, the stone bridge carries an unclassified road over the East Looe River at Terras Pill,{{efn|"Pill" is derived from pil, which refers to a tidal creek{{cite book |last1=Fuller |first1=Barbara |title=Britain |date=2005 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish Benchmark |location=New York |isbn=9780761418450 |page=88 |edition=2nd}}}}{{cite book |last1=Spooner |first1=Derek |title=Wild Looe |date=2014 |publisher=Alison Hodge |isbn=9780906720943 |page=49}} between the parishes of Morval and Duloe.{{cite web |title=Terras Bridge (Ordnance Survey > 25 inch Scotland, 1892-1949 England and Wales, 1841-1952) |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=50.37438&lon=-4.46481&layers=168&b=1 |website=maps.nls.uk |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=4 January 2022}} As well as the main span across the river channel, the bridge has a second small flood arch.{{NHLE|num=1329293|desc=TERRAS PILL BRIDGE}} The main bridge arch was navigable, maintaining the river's navigability to Sandplace.{{cite book |last1=Wallis |first1=John |title=The Cornwall Register: Containing Collections Relative to the Past and Present State of the 209 Parishes, Forming the County, Archdeaconry, Parliamentary Divisions, and Poor Law Unions of Cornwall |date=1847 |publisher=Liddell and Son |page=365}} Downstream of the bridge, the only crossing of the river is Looe Bridge.{{cite web |title=Detailed maps & routes to explore the great outdoors {{!}} OS Maps |url=https://explore.osmaps.com/en?lat=50.373972&lon=-4.465384&zoom=15.7459 |website=explore.osmaps.com |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=10 January 2022}}
At the north side of the bridge, the road continues on a causeway over mudflats and saltings. The East Looe River is tidal as far as Tregarland Bridge – a little over {{cvt|1|mi}} upstream of Terras Bridge – and so flooding of the causeway is not uncommon.{{cite web |title=Tregarland Bridge (Ordnance Survey > 25 inch Scotland, 1892-1949 England and Wales, 1841-1952) |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=50.39041&lon=-4.46481&layers=168&b=1 |website=maps.nls.uk |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=6 January 2022}} At the north end of the causeway crosses the Liskeard and Looe Union Canal by another stone arch.{{cite AV media |date=19 April 2020 |title=A Train Drivers Eye View of the Looe to Liskeard Branch line. |type=Video |language= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqWM2EWgxDk |access-date = 4 January 2022 |format= |time=03:39 |location= |publisher=RailMart |id=}} The canal was approved by Parliament the same year the bridge opened, and began operation in 1827. A short distance upstream of the bridge was the canal's first lock which acted as a tidal barrier.{{cite book |last1=Popplewell |first1=Lawrence |title=The railways, canal, and mines of Looe and Liskeard |date=1977 |publisher=Oakwood Press |isbn=978-0853612124 |page=32}}
In 1985, Terras Bridge was made a Grade II listed structure.
= Level crossing =
In 1853 the Liskeard and Looe Railway was built on the bank separating the river and canal. The railway line crosses the bridge's roadway at an open level crossing.{{cite book |last1=Messenger |first1=Michael John |title=Caradon and Looe : the canal, railways, and mines : the history of the Liskeard & Looe Union Canal, the Liskeard & Caradon Railway, the Liskeard & Looe Railway, and the mines and industries they served |date=1978 |publisher=Twelveheads Press |location=Truro |isbn=9780906294017 |page=76}} The railway is now operated as the Looe Valley Line, and trains approaching the crossing are obliged to halt and sound their whistle before proceeding across the road subject to a {{cvt|10|mph}} speed limit.{{cite web |title=Terras Level Crossing |url=https://abcrailwayguide.uk/terras-public-level-crossing-cornwall#.YdQ6J73P3-g |website=abcrailwayguide.uk |publisher=ABC Railway Guide |access-date=4 January 2022}}{{cite web |title=Active Level Crossings data April 2021 |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Level-Crossings-data-April-2021.xlsx |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=4 January 2022 |format=XLSX |date=May 2021}}
{{as of|April 2021}}, the crossing was one of 62 open level crossings listed by Network Rail, and is one of three such crossings on the Looe Valley Line. Open crossings account for approximately {{percent|62|6,180}} of the 6,180 level crossings operated or maintained by Network Rail.
Footnotes
{{noteslist}}
References
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
{{commons|Category:Terras Crossing|Terras Crossing}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Cornwall|state=collapsed}}
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Cornwall
Category:1820s establishments in England