Join me on a ride to the longest stone bridge in England, in fact the longest inland bridge of any type in England, and it was built mostly in the thirteenth century!
The bridge was the southernmost point of Bonny Prince Charlie’s advance on London.
Built of local sandstone to cross the River Trent and the surrounding marshes, it has obviously been patched up and repaired over the centuries, widened in parts, but essentially this is a medieval bridge for most of its length.
For centuries this was the Midlands’ main crossing point of the Trent.
Given the strategic nature of this bridge, you will not be surprised to know that a Civil War battle was fought here.
More interestingly, in 1745, Swarkestone Bridge was the southernmost point of Bonny Prince Charlie’s advance on London in his attempt to claim the British throne. This bridge was chosen for the crossing of the Trent by the army from the North as it planned to move South to the victory it might well have achieved.
All roads have a history that is usually interesting. But it is at places like Swarkestone Bridge that the history becomes most apparent.
And who knows what turn history might have taken if Bonny Prince Charlie and his supporters in the North had crossed this bridge.
© John Dunn.
Motorcycle: Honda CB500F