BRIDOF.S. 



the taste nnd on the plan of the Ri.ilto, at Venice. Thrre is also 

 in the same style, a very remarkable bridge in Wales, built by 

 William Edwards, a country mason, over the Hirer Taaf, near 

 Caerphilly in Glamorganshire. It is no more than eight f ct 

 broad, but consists of a single arch no less than 140 feet wide, part 

 of a circle of 175 feet diameter, so as to make the altitude 35 ' 

 The arch of this bridge is between 40 and .50 feet wider than the 

 celebrated ixiulfo of Venice, In order to lessen the quantity of 

 matter in the abutments pressing upon the arch, and thereby to 

 bring it to an equipoise with that in the crown, Edwards contrived 

 three circular arches in the abutments ; which pass through from 

 side to side like round windows, and gradually decrease -in the 

 ascent. 



The longest bridge in England is that over the Trent, at Burton, 

 built by Bernard, abbot of Burton, in the twelfth century ; it is 

 all of squared free.stone, strong and lofty, 1545 feet in length, 

 and consisting of 34 arches. Yet this comes far short of the 

 wooden bridge over the Drave, which, according to Dr. Brown, is 

 at least five miles long. 



The triangular bridge at Croyland, in Lincolnshire, which was 

 etected about the year 860, is said to be the most ancient gothic 

 structure remaining entire in the kingdom. There are two cir. 

 cumstances, in the construction of this bridge which render it an 

 object of great curiosity. First, it is formed by three semi. arches, 

 whose bases stand in the circumference of a circle, at equal dis- 

 stnnces from each other: these unite at the top, and the tri une 

 rature of the structure has led some (o imagine it was intended as 

 an emblem of the Trinity. Secondly, the ascent on each of the 

 s: mi. arches is by steps paved with small stones, and is so steep that 

 none but foot passengers can go over the bridge : horsemen and 

 carriages frequently pass under it, as the river in that place is but 

 shallow. For what purpose this bridge was really designed, it is 

 difficult, if not impossible to determine. Utility, it is obvious, 

 va? one of the least motives (o its erection. To boldness of design, 

 and singularity of construction, it has more powerful claims ; and 

 these qualities it must be allowed to possess in as great a dr^r. 

 any bridge in Europe. London bridge consists of 20 locks or 

 arches, whereof 19 are open, and one filled up or obscured; it 

 is 900 feet long, do high, and 74 broad, and almost 20 feet aper- 

 ture in each arch. It is supported by 18 piers or solids, from 34 

 to 2 5 feet thick ; so that the greatest water-way, when the tide is 



