116 KINGSBRIDGE 



here. Large quantities are sent off to the North of England; 

 also to Quebec and the Labrador fisheries. About eighteen 

 men and nine boys are usually employed here. 



To return to the east side of the estuary. Rather 

 beyond the first mile-stone on this, the "new road" to 

 Dartmouth, is Charleton Bridge, crossing a creek, near the 

 head of which is Shindle mill. This bridge possesses some 

 peculiarities of construction, probably not to be found else- 

 where. The following particulars were kindly furnished, 

 in 1864, by Mr. Joseph Pulliblank, builder, and son-in-law 

 of Mr. John Eddy, therein mentioned: — "The present hori- 

 zontal swing-bridge over the Bowcombe creek was erected 

 in the year 1845. The contract for its erection was taken 

 on the 1st of January in that year by Mr. A. Saunders, of 

 Kingsbridge, millwright and engineer, and the work was 

 carried out under the superintendence of Mr. John Eddy, 

 surveyor. The principle of the bridge (being required to 

 open to allow of the navigation of the creek) is a strong 

 horizontal framework of wood, about forty-five feet long 

 by sixteen feet wide, resting on a strong fulcrum of timber, 

 built into a solid mass of masonry, and shod with tempered 

 iron at its upper end — the weight resting on twelve cannon 

 balls, which play freely in two grooved pieces of cast-iron, 

 one of which is fixed to the movable framework, and the 

 other to the solid masonry below. This application of 

 cannon balls excited the admiration of a very worthy 

 member of the Society of Friends, since deceased, who 

 observed that it was such an use of cannon balls as he 

 could approve of, and he wished they were always as well 

 employed." 



Since the foregoing was written, the bridge being much 

 out of repair, it was rebuilt. Mr. Pulliblank says : " The 



