Sutton Bridge.........

.............I drove through here on my way home from my short break - but drove down the side of the river to take this picture before crossing the bridge.
This area was once marshland, reclaimed from the sea from the 16th century onwards. In fact even in the 19th century there was nothing more than a few cottages along the road from Lynn to Spalding. The River Nene was much wider then with no bridge so it had to be crossed at low tide with great care and a guide.
In 1825 an Act of Parliament saw the beginning of Sutton Bridge. Long a place where wagons and carriages were guided across the Wash, sometimes with the loss of cargo or lives, the Act allowed the river to be dredged, a large embankment built along the course of the river and a bridge - a bridge that was a technical marvel of its time - built to allow passage to Norfolk without anyone getting wet. Completed in July 1831, soon a number of wharfs and warehouses were built along the river banks. The original bridge has been replaced twice, lastly by a swing bridge in 1897. I have never been here to see it in operation - yet!
Sir Peter Scott of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire and the World Wildlife Fund spent time living in Sutton Bridge. He lived in the lighthouse on the East Bank of the River Nene and whilst there, spent his time painting the geese that flew in from the adjoining marshland. He set up a small nature reserve for wildfowl and this was the predecessor to Slimbridge.

Did you notice the tw0 "M"s on the top - free advertising for Macdonalds?!!!!

Anni and Himself are back from Malta this afternoon - they seem to have had a really good holiday and Anni has posted some great pix - so pleased they have enjoyed themselves.

Another not great day and heavy rain forecast for tomorrow! - Temperature at just 51 Deg F at the moment - to be fair it's not raining!

Thoughts today of all the people in Colorado who have been hit by flooding and all of those who have lost their homes or worse still, the relatives of those who have lost their lives.