Rustic Bridge Over River Skell Approximately 300 Metres South-East Of Outlet From The Lake, With Ford And Weir Approximately 2 Metres To West

The Rustic Bridge over the River Skell is located approximately 300 metres south-east of the outlet from the lake, with a ford and weir situated about 2 metres to the west. The ford and weir were constructed around 1740 for John Aislabie, while the bridge was likely built before 1781 for William Aislabie. The ford and weir are made of gritstone and measure approximately 3 metres wide, featuring large setts flanked by curb stones. The downstream edge of the ford forms a weir, which was partly collapsed at the time of the last survey. The bridge itself is made of gritstone rubble and boulders, incorporating tufa blocks. It has a single-span shallow segmental arch constructed with dressed rubble and voussoirs. The parapet has a rubble crest, with large worn boulders serving as terminals. The stones are mortared but arranged to create the appearance of dry walling. This bridge carries a narrow bridle or pedestrian pathway and replaced an earlier structure built around 1740 in a Chinese Chippendale style, which provided access to the pagoda in the Chinese Wood to the east, now demolished.