Countess Wear Bridge

Countess Wear Bridge is a road bridge over the River Exe, built in 1770 and widened between 1935 and 1938. It is constructed from limestone rubble, featuring red sandstone arch rings and parapet coping. The concrete widening is faced in limestone rubble and red sandstone to match the original structure. The bridge has six spans, with the widening occurring on the southeast downstream side. It includes segmental arches and a wider elliptical central arch. Cutwaters are present on both sides of the piers between the arches, rising to refuges in the parapets. Historically, a weir was constructed across the River Exe at this location by the Countess of Devon in 1286. An Act was passed in 1768-1769 authorizing the bridge's construction, which was completed in 1770.