Velator Bridge

Velator Bridge is a road bridge over the River Caen, likely built around 1815 and attributed to James Green, the County Surveyor. It is constructed of shale rubble and features a single span wide segmental arch made with dressed shale voussoirs. The parapets are capped with vertically coursed shale. The bridge was probably built in connection with the reclamation of Braunton Marsh, which was initially reclaimed from tidal waters of the River Taw during the Middle Ages. However, between 1811 and 1815, the marsh underwent extensive drainage following an Act of Parliament, driven by the Lords of the Manors of Braunton Gorges, Braunton Abbotts, Braunton Arundel, and Saunton, who had grazing rights on the marshes. They aimed to enclose Braunton Marsh, which had been regularly flooded by tidal waters, resulting in the reclamation of 949 acres. John Pascoe served as the surveyor, while James Green was the engineer. The nearby Horsey Island to the southeast was reclaimed between 1852 and 1857. The late enclosures in Braunton are historically significant, particularly as the Great Field, located just north of the marsh, is one of only three surviving open field systems in England. As of 1984, only five farmers were operating on the Great Field, with their holdings still dispersed as they were in the Middle Ages when there were about 100 farmers.