Helland Bridge

Helland Bridge is a four-arch bridge dating from the early 15th century. It was partially rebuilt in the mid-19th century and altered in the late 19th century, with further repairs in the 20th and 21st centuries. The bridge spans the River Camel from north to south and is approximately 40 metres long and 3 metres wide.

The bridge is constructed from slatestone rubble with slate voussoirs and granite copings. The four arches each have a span of approximately 5 metres, separated by three piers with triangular cutwaters that extend upwards to road level, forming refuges. The central cutwater projects 1.5 metres, while the others project slightly less. The southern arches are similar and feature single rings of slate voussoirs flush with the sides of the bridge. The two northern arches have two rings of slate voussoirs, with the inner ring slightly recessed from the outer. The second arch from the north was rebuilt with a pointed arch, and disturbed masonry indicates replacement voussoirs were inserted in the adjacent piers. The arches rise from a level approximately 1 metre above the waterline.

At the north end of the bridge, a smaller, early 19th-century round-headed arch has been constructed over the tailrace for an adjacent mill. The river channel beneath these northern arches is more silted-up, likely due to a historic dump channel from the mill.

The space between the parapets is almost 3 metres wide near the centre of the bridge, widening gradually towards each end before expanding to the width of the modern roadway, approximately 12 metres. This widening is particularly noticeable at the north end, above the added early 19th-century arch. The parapet walls were rebuilt in the late 18th or early 19th century to accommodate the approach roads at each end. The north end of the west parapet wall is supported by a large granite slab on granite corbels, likely dating to the 20th century and replacing earlier bonded slabs. Wrought-iron railings top the parapet at the northeast end.

The parapet walls are approximately one metre high and have chamfered granite coping stones, some secured with iron cramps. These stones may have been added after the flood of 1847. Sections of the parapet have been rebuilt due to vehicular damage to the bridge. The roadside of the parapet features 20th-century granite kerbs and rounded granite kick-stones. Traffic-calming measures are present at both ends of the bridge.