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Ancient Clapper Bridge, Exmoor, Believed to be 3,000 Years Old
Ancient Clapper Bridge, Exmoor, Believed to be 3,000 Years Old
PenelopeK


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Ancient (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Challenges: Landscape
Camera: Canon EOS-7D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Location: Exmoor National Park, Somerset, UK
Date: Oct 18, 2013
Aperture: f/10
ISO: 320
Shutter: 1/30, 1/60, 1/125
Galleries: Black and White, History
Date Uploaded: Oct 22, 2013

 Tarr Steps is a wonderful, very old, clapper bridge that crosses the river Barle in Exmoor National Park in the UK. It's 180 feet long with 17 spans each weighing 1-2 tons. Slabs are raked against the ends of each pier on the upstream side (on the right in this image) to break the force of the river and divert floating debris. However some parts could not withstand the 10 foot high floods last year and the fallen trees being swept downstream. Several spans had to be recovered from downstream and put back in place.

Regarding their age, "..several theories claim Tarr Steps date from the Bronze Age, while others date them from around 1400 AD". Pretty old in either case.

ETA: I was in Somerset, England visiting my brother and his family. Before the trip, when he asked if there was anywhere in particular I would like to visit, I mentioned this place, Tarr Steps, which I'd never been to. This challenge was announced a couple of days before we made that outing. Perfect timing!

PS. My interest in seeing this bridge was in part because as a child I always loved the clapper bridges on Dartmoor.

Taken from part way over the bridge.

HDR from IMG_9082, 9083 and 9084.

Statistics
Place: 11 out of 108
Avg (all users): 6.1196
Avg (commenters): 8.0000
Avg (participants): 6.0889
Avg (non-participants): 6.1489
Views since voting: 1464
Views during voting: 158
Votes: 92
Comments: 5
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-5DS R
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
 10/30/2013 05:01:18 AM
Now that *is* nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS
 10/30/2013 12:05:10 AM
Great finish, sweetie! Mwah!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D300
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
 10/28/2013 11:13:05 PM
I like the subject and it is perfect for black and white. I wondering what effect shifting the perspective of the bridge to run a bit of angle across the photo would bring. Good work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7200
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 10/28/2013 12:27:54 AM
This really draws the eye in.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D5100
10/25/2013 02:18:30 PM
Beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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