Roman Bridge

The Roman Bridge is a road bridge located at the head of Polperro harbour, spanning a stream. It was remodelled after 1854 and is constructed of stone rubble featuring a dressed round stone arch with a long granite keystone on the harbour side. The parapet on the harbour side is slightly splayed over the abutments and extends southward to form the west wall of the harbour. On the west side, there is a narrow parapet over the stream that runs between the House on the Props and coal sheds, which have since been converted into shops to the southwest. An early photograph taken by Lewis Harding around 1854 shows the bridge in the background with a flat timber lintel, which has since been replaced by the current dressed stone arch. Another photograph from the turn of the 19th century also depicts the present bridge in the background.