252 SOME DORSET BRIDGES, 



At Wool the same river is crossed by the Elizabethan " Wool- 

 bridge " (as it is called), which, standing as it does in the open, 

 with the Turberville Manor at the side, is very prominent. The 

 Frome here is wide and fast, and the bridge large in proportion. 

 Five arches span the river, semi-circular in shape, and strongly 

 ribbed underneath. Dividing each arcade is a triangular buttress, 

 fonning at the road level a recess for foot passengers, and the 

 walls at the sides run well up on the banks. There is a good 

 looking bridge, known as " Holmebridge," midway between 

 Wool and Wareham. It spans the river on the road leading to 

 Lulworth, but though it is situated near the main road, few people 

 notice it. It is similar in design and construction to that at 

 Wool, and has semi-circular arches. These are six in number, 

 and are built in two planes. The stones are alternately brown 

 and white, giving a pleasing appearance, age having mellowed 

 the tints, whilst the spandrils of the arches are similarly built. On 

 the Wool side of the bridge, there are five triangular-shaped 

 buttresses, forming recesses to the road above, but on the down- 

 stream side there are only two. The parapet above the road 

 level is built of bricks and finished with plain coping. The 

 river here is not wide, but the marshy land necessitates the 

 bridge being carried well on to the banks at each side. This 

 bridge is famous as being the scene of an exciting episode 

 during the Civil War, when a small body of Royalists held at 

 bay a large force of Roundheads for a considerable time, ulti- 

 mately beating off their opponents when assistance arrived. 



At Wareham the Frome, which flows by the south side of the 

 town, is crossed by a five-arched bridge, the road having a steep 

 gradient to the centre, giving it a rather humped appearance. 

 And as the remains of a quay are to be seen alongside this bridge, 

 the arches were probably built high, so as to allow barges and 

 other craft to pass under. They vary in size from the central one, 

 the arch stones being prominent, and the key stones projecting 

 from the face. To each side of the central arch are buttresses of 

 semi-octagonal shape, forming recesses at the road level. These 

 buttresses have a plain plinth a few feet above the river level, and 



