Bridges over the Tamar

Sunday
This morning we went to church with our friend Margaret. We didn't have far to go - the church is literally right across the road. Then after a bit more chatting, and showing them some pictures of the kids and our recent vacations, we had a bit of lunch, then headed back north to Roger's parents. Our route took us over the Tamar suspension bridge, the River Tamar marking the boundary between Cornwall and Devon. When it opened in 1961 it was the longest suspension bridge in the United Kingdom. The bridge to the left of the suspension bridge is the Royal Albert Bridge, built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, which carries the Cornish Main Line railway in and out of Cornwall. Its unique design consists of two 455 feet lenticular iron trusses 100 feet above the water, with conventional plate-girder approach spans. This gives it a total length of 2,187.5 feet. Surveying for the bridge started in 1848 and construction commenced in 1854. It was opened by Prince Albert on 2 May 1859. Brunel died later that year and his name was then placed above the portals at either end of the bridge as a memorial.