Boulder Bridge Penistone

A History of Boulder Bridge.

Boulder Bridge was originally build of wood in the 14th Century. Legend has it, that in the 18th Century a local landowner gave 30 pieces of gold to build the stone bridge that you see standing here today.

It is known as a “packhorse bridge” as it served the very busy trade that ran through Penistone and was used by tradesmen and their horses carrying their goods in panniers (packs strapped to either side of the horse) The panniers had to be equal in weight when loaded, or they would slide sideways as the horses walked

Packhorse bridges were made narrow with low walls so as not to damage or break the bottom of the panniers that the horses were carrying. The men leading the horses were also known as “Salters) , as the loads that the horses carried were mainly salt. The roads they travelled on were also known as “saltways”

Each train of horses usually consisted of between ten and thirty horses. The leading horse would wear a big bell round its neck to warn other trains of their approach, and to also let their customers know they were coming with goods to sell.

I was walking near our Garden and discovered this alternative route into the site. Wonderful history.........

These bridges and roadways were the main routs used until the introduction of “turnpikes” These were gates placed across roads which were only passable when a toll fare had been paid. The Hope to Penistone turnpike was built in the late 1770’s