SOME DORSET BRIDGES. 253 



below this they are constructed in triangular shape. The other 

 arches are divided by triangular buttresses, crowned about the 

 level of keystones of the arches with plain cornices, and splayed 

 water tabling. For centuries a bridge must have occupied this spot 

 (as the river is too deep to ford, and the " walls " are stopped), 

 forming one of the four original entrances into old Wareham. 



The other bridge at the north of the town is smaller, and spans 

 the river Piddle. The Wareham bridges are the last over the 

 Frome and the Piddle, as from here the two rivers run almost 

 side by side into Wareham Channel, a branch of Poole Harbour, 

 and thence to the sea. 



Over the river Stour, which runs through the north-east 

 portions of the county, and into Hampshire, there are also some 

 interesting bridges. 



At Fifehead Neville, a small village two miles south-east of 

 Sturminster, is a very quaint foot-bridge spanning a stream which 

 crosses a lane. This bridge is supposed to be of Roman origin ; 

 and in the field alongside, important remains of Roman habitation 

 have been discovered. The bridge is strong, of two arches, 

 triangular in shape, and of flat stone slabs, and the central pier 

 is strengthened with a heavy triangular buttress. The footway 

 winds over, and at the sides are wooden rails. The bridge is not 

 likely to be of later date than the 1 3th century, and the core of 

 it may be Roman. 



At the other side of Fifehead Neville there is a comparatively 

 modern bridge, interesting as having been erected in memory of 

 one Selkerk, of Indian Mutiny fame. 



The bridge at Sturminster Newton is situated immediately at 

 the junction of the Blandford and Sherborne road with the one 

 from Sturminster, and is consequently well known. It has six 

 equilateral pointed arches, ribbed underneath, and has large 

 buttresses to the upstream side, with recesses at the road level, 

 but only one large buttress to the other side. The buttress is 

 small, and triangular in shape, at the base, and is corbelled out 

 just below the road level to form a recess to the road. A hand- 

 some cornice runs along above the heads of the arches, deeply 



