CLAPPER BRIDGES (“Clapper” in Old Anglo Saxon means “heap of stones”)
TARR STEPS CLAPPER BRIDGE Exmoor nr Dulverton, Somerset HEW 863 SS868 321 N53o 5’ 37.7” W3o 48’ 28.1”
This bridge is of Bronze Age origin. The raking slabs upstream and downstream act as shear-waters and serve also to deflect debris up and over the stones during floods. It might well be part of the ancient pathways on the uplands as there is a pack horse track leading down to it from the tops from which you can hike in.
In this case “near Dulverton” means about six miles to the northwest and it isn’t easy to find the extremely narrow road out of Dulverton which turns off Fore Street, one street to the north of and parallel to High Street. From the entrance/exit of the mid-town car park, take the street between them and ahead you will see the tiny sign saying Tarr Steps on the side of a house. When you turn off the country road to the Tarr Steps and cross the first cattle grid, you can park and walk over the hills to the bridge – about a mile or so. Or you can drive in a mile or so and park close by.
POST CLAPPER BRIDGE Dartmoor N50o 35’ 39.1” W3’ 54’ 40.1” This bridge was probably built in the 14th century.
