Helland Bridge

Four-arch bridge, dating from the early-C15, partially rebuilt in the mid-C19, altered in the late-C19. Repaired in the C20 and C21.

MATERIALS: slatestone rubble with slate voussoirs and granite copings.

DESCRIPTION: Helland Bridge spans the River Camel north to south with four arches, and is about 40m long and 3m wide. Each arch has a span of approximately 5m, between which are three piers with triangular cutwaters which continue up to road-level to form refuges. The central cutwater projects about 1.5m and the others slightly less. The southern arches are alike and have single rings of slate voussoirs flush with the sides of the bridge. The two arches to the north have two rings of slate voussoirs, the inner slightly recessed from the outer; the second arch from the north was rebuilt with a very pointed arch and there is disturbed masonry in the adjacent piers where replacement voussoirs have been inserted. The arches spring from a level up to 1m above the waterline. At the extreme north-end of the bridge is a smaller early-C19 round-headed arch constructed over the tailrace for the adjacent mill. The river channel is more silted-up beneath these northern arches, and this probably relates to the historic dump-channel from the mill.

The distance between the parapets is almost 3m wide near the centre of the bridge, gradually widening towards each end before splaying out to the width of the modern roadway (approximately 12m). This is particularly evident at the north end above the added early-C19 arch, but the parapet walls were all rebuilt in the late-C18 or early-C19 to accommodate the approach road at each end. The north end of the west parapet wall is supported by a large granite slab on granite corbels; these may be C20 in date and replace a series of bonded-in slabs. The parapet at the far north-east end is topped with C19 wrought-iron railings.

The parapet walls are approximately one-metre high and have chamfered granite coping stones, some with iron cramps, and may have been added following the 1847 flood. Parts of the parapet have been rebuilt following vehicular damage to the bridge. On the roadside of the parapet, at ground level, are some lengths of C20 granite kerbs and a series of granite kick-stones; early examples are rounded. At each end there are C21 traffic-calming measures.