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Skerton Bridge, Lancaster
Skerton Bridge
site name:-   Lune, River
locality:-   Lancaster
county:-   Lancashire
locality type:-   bridge
coordinates:-   SD479622
1Km square:-   SD4762
10Km square:-   SD46
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Defoe 1724-26
source data:-   Tour through England and Wales, by Daniel Defoe, published in parts, London, 1724-26.
"[Lancaster, River Lune] ... the bridge is handsome and strong, ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821.
image WS21P024, button  goto source
Page 24:-  "... Skerton town end: an eligible situation for a new one, which would make a fine and convenient entrance into Lancaster, from the north, and which at present on many accounts it much wants [1]."
"[1] A new bridge has since been erected on the site above pointed out. It was built after a design of Mr. Harrison, consists of five equal eliptical (sic) arches, and is 549 feet long. The expense of the erection, which was paid by the county, amounted to 14,000l. It is one of the handsomest bridges of its size in Europe, and does honour to the taste of the architect, and to the public spirit of those who promoted the work on so liberal a plan."
image WS21P217, button  goto source
Addendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769 
Page 217:-  "... Here [Lancaster] is a good bridge of four arches over the Lune, ..."
evidence:-   probably old map:- Otley 1818
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, The District of the Lakes, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Jonathan Otley, 1818, engraved by J and G Menzies, Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Jonathan Otley, Keswick, Cumberland, et al, 1833.
image
OT02SD46.jpg
Implied by a road crossing the Lune. 
item:-  JandMN : 48.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (8th edn 1849) 
source data:-   Print, engraving, Lancaster, Lancashire, drawn by Mr Binns, Halifax, engraved by Mr Jewitt, Headington, Oxfordshire, published by Jonathan Otley, Keswick, Cumberland et al, 1849.
image OT80P169, button  goto source
Page 169:- 
image  click to enlarge
O80E30.jpg
"LANCASTER."
Engraving, drawn by T Binns, engraved by O Jewitt. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A1180.30
Image © see bottom of page image OT80P171, button  goto source
Page 171:-  "... The new Bridge, a little higher up the river, is allowed to be one of the handsomest of its size in Europe. It was completed in 1788, at an expense of L14,000. ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.
image FD01P002, button  goto source
Page 2:-  "..."
"... and noble bridge crossing the Lune ..."
evidence:-   old text:- Burrow 1920s
placename:-  
source data:-   Road book, strip maps with parts in Westmorland, Cumberland etc, irregular scales about 1.5 miles to 1 inch, by E J Burrow and Co, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, 1920s.
"... At Lancaster we are at the mouth of the Lune, which must be crossed by Skerton Bridge on leaving the town"
hearsay:-  
 Designed by Thomas Harrison, built 1736-38. It is possibly modelled on an ancient roman bridge at Rimini, Italy. 5 spans of 66 to 68 feet, with elliptical arches.
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