The Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux (the one played by Errol Flynn in the 1939 movie The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex) built this bridge for Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century so she could go hunting in nearby woodland when she visited him. It remains the longest packhorse bridge in England, with 14 of its original 42 arches still to be seen crossing the River Trent on the edge of the Shugborough estate in Staffordshire.
It's Grade I listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Thank you, HA. We missed this (ie - we didn't know about it) when we visited Shugborough. Will seek it out next time and also watch out for it on every Elizabeth movie - Mrs Britain will claim she is far too young to watch the 1939 version, though. In our defence, Shugborough is an absorbing place to visit...
ReplyDeleteA nice reminder - we lived only four or five miles from Shugborough for almost twenty years. My favourite story about it is about friends who were walking their dogs in the grounds (in spite of a sign saying no dogs allowed) when they came across a man with his two dogs (I rather think they were Afghan Hounds). He pointed out the sign to them and when they pointed out his dogs to him he replied that the difference was that he was Lord Lichfield, who of course lived there for many years.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful bridge isn't it? I always try to walk down to it when we visit Shugborough which reminds me that we haven't been yet this year. I feel a visit should be made soon:)
ReplyDeleteShugborough is one of those places I've always meant to visit and so far never have. I'd love to see this bridge, I have a thing about old racehorse bridges, there's so much history with them.
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