Oldgroaners Phone&Compact

By Oldgroaner

Beggars Bridge Glaisdale North Yorks

Beggar's Bridge was built in 1619 by Tom Ferris, a wealthy merchant who
became Sheriff of Hull in 1614 and Mayor in 1620. Legend has it that he
was originally the son of a poor Egton farmer and loved Agnes Richardson,
daughter of a squire across the River Esk in Glaisdale. Ferris was
rejected as a suitor and denounced as a beggar by the squire. He thus
resolved to go to sea to seek his fortune, but was prevented from saying
good-bye to Agnes by floods making the river impassable. After making his
fortune in the Caribbean, Ferris returned to marry Agnes and built a
bridge to help future lovers. Beggar's Bridge may incorporate stonework
from a 14th century bridge that had collapsed by 1577.
The side walls are below waist height, this was to allows the saddlebags of the pack horses used as local transport to pass over the bridge without catching.
You need a good head for height to stand at the top of the Bridge and look down at the river.
The Bridge is only wide enough for a horse to cross it.
I imagine most horsemen and women wouldn't actually ride on the Horse over the Bridge!

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