HELE BRIDGE AT NGR 9331 2782

Hele Bridge is a road bridge over the River Exe, with medieval origins. It was repaired in 1628 and 1866, and widened on the south side in 1892 by G. B. Fisher for Somerset County Council. The bridge is constructed of random rubble local stone, featuring rubble voussoirs and hit-and-miss coping on the parapet. The south side is made of squared, irregularly coursed local stone with blue glazed brick voussoirs and saddleback coping.

The bridge has a three arch span, with 4-centred arches on the north side flanked by pointed cutwaters that have rubble tops. There is a circular iron tie above the apex of the centre arch. The earlier parapet appears to have extended to the top of the cutwaters, which is visible in the south-west corner. On the south side, there are semi-circular headed arches with a pointed cutwater between them, and the parapet has been extended along the line of the cutwaters to form recesses similar to those found on medieval packhorse bridges. The soffits of the arches on the south side have been extended in brick, indicating two periods of construction. This bridge is an interesting example of how a medieval structure has been adapted for modern use. The road from Hele Bridge to Dulverton is noted in Ogilby's 1675 map of the Bridgwater-Barnstaple road.